Hello everyone, and apologizes. The lateness of the chapter is entirely my own fault. I realized I had to rework a scene late into production and by the time I sent it to my beta, it was far past the deadline I usually do to assure it's out on time. I'm doing great (and writing a lot if you're fans of some of my other stories!)

L: To answer your questions about drabbles, a drabble is a writing piece (sometimes long, sometimes short) that I do as a gift for repeat reviewers. The list of the fandoms is on my bio! If you have a tumblr or Wattpad it might be a tad easier to communicate with me since you don't have an account on here if you want some more info!

"Ah, young Avatar. I know you are in the woods and struggling to come home. It is not an easy task. You must take your time and take each step carefully. We will all be waiting for you here when you return. The world needs you, true, but I know you would not leave us. I know you are trying to return. You would not leave the world in need, but more importantly to you...you would not leave your friends or Ty Lee alone.

Hmm, what sort of tea should we have? Oolong is a favorite. It's constant. It's reliable. It's strong. It is a flavor that we have loved for many years. Perhaps the smell will wake you. The way it's always there, always enjoyable, is the sort of routine that we all need right now.

Or shall we go with fiery cinnamon? For some, it tingles in the back of their throat and they find it most unpleasant. But you never did. Do you remember drinking it by the teapot when you first arrived? Part of me hopes the waft of its warmth will help you find your way back.

Oh! Maybe we should brew something unexpected? Maybe we should consider that you are so far past our realm of thinking that only something truly extraordinary will help you back. I've heard it said that smell is a powerful tool for remembrance. I would think I would be awoken by the smell of tea if I were unresponsive, but perhaps that's just me.

Where were we? Yes, I see, picking that elusive, unusual tea.

Well, perhaps we'll go with this one. I suppose it's unusual for me, but maybe it's nostalgic for you.

There is not much that flourishes up here, so I am captivated by the flowers that do. I have only had Alpine Aster once, and it was most enjoyable. For most, it's a tea flavor they've never tasted. For us, refugees in your home, it is something unique and new. I wonder if this is what you had in your childhood? Is this what your masters brewed after a long day of lessons? Is this what you drank to soothe your nerves before a big day? Hmm, I wonder many things…

I hope you wake up, Avatar Aang. There is so much I wish to ask you. So many things I want to know, selfishly, about the world you left 100 years ago. It is such a rare opportunity. I like to think that if you had grown up without being left behind by time, we would be good friends and would get along quite well.

Ah! Listen to the sound of that tea pouring. There is no more beautiful sound.

I suppose as it is, we have gone a different path. Mother Time pushed you another way. So now, I'm sure you can recognize, you are more like a son to me, the same as Zuko. I wish not to take the place of whoever your father was, but if you would like one...Aang, I am here.

So we'll sit here. And we'll drink this delicious alpine tea. And perhaps, just maybe, the voice of your family will lead you home."

XXX

Katara did her chores with a fury.

She cut lengths of gauze...angrily. She re-organized their jars of healing herbs...angrily. She washed her hands as she passed the night work off to a night nurse...angrily. Well, she tried to be less angry with the last one, but the Air Acolyte that watched the healing hut after the sun slipped below the horizon was staring at Katara with a sense of trepidation. So, yikes, she probably had been a little harsh.

Great. Just great.

She steered clear of everyone around dinner time, as her anger flooded away and she was left with an acute sense of embarrassment. She'd rather go hungry tonight than meekly return and apologize to Sokka, no matter how much she knew she'd been an ass a few hours ago.

Realistically, they were right. There shouldn't be any communications right now. She wasn't special enough to get different treatment, nor should she be.

But she was just so worried. The fear she felt for her people, and what might be coming for them, felt like a weight always pressed against her chest, squeezing her heart.

Katara curled up on her cot, digging her face into the pillow and wishing that it would just be tomorrow already. Better yet, she sort of hoped that everyone just forgot the little outburst, and chalk it up to Air Temple fever.

"Kat?" Zuko poked his head into the room. "Oh, there you are," he sighed in relief.

"Where did you think I went?" Katara groaned, "Off the side of the Temple?"

She felt the slight pressure of something being set beside her. She opened one eye to see a plate of food. Zuko leaned against the bed frame, tilting his head.

"You need to eat. None of us should be skipping meals," he urged.

"How did you know I didn't eat?" Katara scrunched her nose. Tui, had her absence at dinner been obvious? Oh, crap, was everyone talking about her while she wasn't there? Was-

"No one's talking about it." Zuko seemed to read her mind, and his voice was gentle. "I just know it's what I would do. And well, we're more similar than we like to admit sometimes. Stubborn," he said, grinning a bit.

"No one's talking?" Katara repeated carefully, slowly pulling the plate toward her.

"No...no...we…" Zuko licked his lips, rubbing his neck, "It's been brewing this whole time. You're not the first to blow up a bit like that. I didn't want to mention it because it's so stupid, but yesterday I got in a big fight with Ty Lee over the color of Aang's bedsheets. We're all just antsy and anxious and waiting for something that we don't know yet."

"Oh." Katara relaxed a bit, sitting up cross-legged. "I guess that's good to hear. Not good, but a relief to me."

"Admittedly, yours was…" Zuko sat on the bed next to her, laughing to himself, "Well, Katara, you're really good at making scenes."

The fork she was lifting to her mouth immediately came down hard on her plate. "What did you just say?" she said, huffing.

"In a good way!"

"Spirits, how is 'making a scene' a good thing? And before you answer," she said in a firm voice, "I'd think really hard about what you think you should say and what you actually should."

"I…" Zuko's voice trailed off. "I didn't mean to offend you. I guess that sounded sorta bad."

"Try entirely bad," Katara's crappy mood was slowly returning.

"It's just...nothing is ever done half-assed with you, you know? Most people would kill for that sort of energy you put into everything you do."

"Don't even try to turn that comment around." Katara was just about ready to kick him out, curl under her covers, and wake up in -hopefully- a better mood tomorrow.

"I know I'm not good at this sometimes, awe, Kat," Zuko groaned, "It was a compliment!"

"It wasn't, but whatever."

Zuko winced. "Whatever. Oof. Sokka warned me about that one. That when girls say 'whatever', it's not whatever. It means you're upset with me."

"It should be obvious." Katara set the plate on the nightstand. "Zuko, look, it's late. Can we pick up this fight tomorrow?"

"I don't want to fight with you," Zuko said quietly, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Too bad, we're in one," Katara said sourly, "Because I can't just be good at fighting and 'making scenes'. Those are the worst jobs ever and I just…" She sniffled and looked at the ceiling. Dang it, she wasn't going to cry. No, not now! "And everyone was there. Even Mai. Why was she even in there?" She hadn't thought they were going to dig into this one, but Zuko was insisting they talk about it.

"Sokka pointed out that she might be the best person to understand what's going on inside Azula's head. Ty Lee has been on the outs with Azula for moons, and I realized I never really knew her. We hope that maybe Mai can help us figure out her next moves. It's the best we've got."

Katara's shoulders slumped. "Oh. Yeah. That does make sense." She inhaled, biting back her self-pitying comment somewhere along the lines of 'see, even she's useful'. She thought she was able to push it down, but apparently not, because Zuko reached her hand, kissing the back of it. His kindness was frustrating her. Couldn't they just have a good-old yelling match, apologize, and then be done with it?

"You're good at lots of other things! Like-"

"Zuko, seriously, think really hard about whatever you're going to say next," Katara said, a bit more harsh than she should have been.

She expected Zuko to get equally fired up now, to start volleying back with a raised tone, and maybe she wanted that a little? Maybe she wanted to just yell and scream a bit, and have a reason to do so. Instead, Zuko just reached out, placing his hand gingerly upon her cheek.

"Katara, you have the most important job of all."

Katara stared at him, sighing. "Zuko, stop. I know healing is important, but that's just not true."

"I'm not talking about that," Zuko said, taking this invitation to lay next to her on the cot, curling up next to her, "You know as well as I do that some time in the Palace, there was a...shift. I started feeling like I could actually lead."

"Yes, I remember that," Katara said, crinkling her forehead. What did this have to do with a job she didn't even know she apparently had. However, she had to hand it to Zuko. The diversion was great in reducing anger, leaving her with confusion.

"And now, I sorta feel like it's vanished from me again. I had it and then it just…" He clenched his hands and unclenched them. "Ever since I….with my father…" It was the only mention he'd made this entire time so far about what he'd done. He swallowed hard. "I haven't felt like a leader since then. But everyone looks at me like I am. Not to Iroh or my mom. To me. They left their lives for me. . And I can't let 'em down, you know?" Zuko asked in a rickety voice.

"No," Katara agreed, "You can't. Perils of being a leader," she said with a knowing sigh.

"So you, Katara, you have the most important job, at least in my eyes," he said, "And you don't even realize you do it."

"Zuko, really. Whatever it is, you don't have to make something up to make me feel better. I was stupid in there. I get it." Katara said, feeling only shame at the way she'd acted.

"Katara, I'm being serious. You keep me sane," he said, his voice heavy with gravity. "You keep me from spinning out. It's like you said; you didn't know how you'd live without me if I died. I feel the same. Without you, I'd never be able to do any of this. I'd just crack."

"Zuko," Katara tutted, "We both know that can't be true."

"It is. I believe it to be so," Zuko kissed her temple, "If you weren't here, I wouldn't be either."

Katara sighed. She understood what he was saying, and did take that part of being a girlfriend very seriously, but still…

"Well, if you really want," Zuko continued, "There is something you could really help me out with. Take something off my plate."

Katara jumped at the chance to be handed something more. "Anything!"

"I need you to be a liaison for the former contestants here. I'm not sure what happened to Zhi in the chaos. I don't know if she wanted to come and was killed, or if she chose to stay or…I just don't know. And they need someone like her again," Zuko said. "Because people like me and you and Toph and everyone else in our little gang, as soon as we found out who Aang was, I think part of us always knew it could go sideways. And we accepted that choice."

"Yes," Katara nodded. She had been sure many times that was the end for them, but she knew protecting Aang was morally correct, so it hadn't even been a question if she should or not.

"Some girls like Suki, I think she would have come with us if we told her..." Zuko shook his head. "And Mai...she gave up everything for me. Azula was her best friend. She knew I wasn't going to pick her. She'll never admit it, but I know I broke her heart, and that what she did was really hard, but at the same time, easy. But the rest of them…" Zuko shook his head. "They only came to the Fire Nation to live like a princess and hopefully become a future Fire Lady. No one signed up for this. They put their trust in me and I don't want a single one feeling like they made the wrong choice, or that I don't understand how much they threw away...their lives...on me. It's a lot to take in for all of us, but it can't be easy for them. So if you're having a tough time...think of them."

"Yeah," Katara sighed, "I guess I hadn't thought of that." Admittedly, since coming to the Air Temple, Katara hadn't seen much of the girls from the Choice. She winced, realizing that was a bad move on her part.

"So see what they need. And get it for them. And be an ear or a shoulder to cry on. Just...make sure they're happy here until we know what's next. If we can send them home or somewhere else, or if they're stuck here, basically forever." Zuko asked.

Katara nodded immediately. "I'll do that. I promise."

Zuko nodded, pulling the food onto Katara's lap. "Good. Thanks."

"You don't have to thank me," Katara chuckled, "And I should be apologizing."

"We just need a second to ourselves. I'll see if I can possibly be spared tomorrow to explore a bit. Would you like that? Just us?" Zuko asked.

Katara beamed, "I'd love that."

XXX

"Aang. My buddy. My pal. The coolest Airbender and Avatar ever...dude, you're killing me.

Look, I know it's not really your fault. It's not the rules that you personally made. And yeah, it's probably a bit hypocritical, considering you're a lump of un-movingness right now. I get that, don't get me wrong, I so totally get that.

But you can't blame me for being hungry. Err...hangry, that is.

I'm totally serious. How did you all survive on no meat? I dunno how you do it. Seriously, I don't.

We're like...eating like Airbenders. I mean, there's not a lot of space for animals up here, that's super clear. Don't want a herd of tasty future jerky wandering off a cliff...yeah, yikes, that would be bad.

And we can't go down, since we don't want to be found out. It's like...in the middle of freaking nowhere. A nowhere below us filled with saber-moose and rabbit-pigs and so many...mhh...delectable things. Sorry for drooling on your floor. I can't help it.

Iroh says it would be disrespectful to eat meat in your home, even if there was a very lost herd of bison-deer. So I'm coming to you, the big guy, to get your official okay because, dude, I think I'm about ready to eat my own leg just to get that crispy, juicy, grilled taste again.

So Aang. We're compadres, aren't we? I'm asking you, no...begging you. Please let me eat just one tiny flying lemur on the island? It wouldn't be Momo; never Momo! I can go and pick off one of the scrawny old ones. I can pick off one with a lame leg or a broken wing. I'm not asking for a whole lot, I just want to taste juicy meat again before I die. You get that, don't you?

I guess not, since...well...you never ate meat.

I can tell you, though, it's the best. The juices, the smoke, the crisp, the fat...can you hear that? My stomach is rumbling. I'm starving here!

So...please, just...well, don't answer if I'm okay to do it. Just one itsy-bitsy, half-dead-anyway flying lemur.

Ack! Momo! Stop it! Ow!

Aang, Momo just bit me!

...Is this a no then?"

XXX

"So…you're basically the new Zhi?"

Katara blinked at Cillia, forcing herself to give a bright, warm smile. She'd come up upon the former contestants lounging at their outdoor patio, and even though Suki had welcomed her with a happy wave, it was clear that she was out of place here. She had needed to ask a handmaid where it was even located for Tui's sake, and that fact weighed heavily upon her.

Zuko was right. They were here with no answers and not allowed to ask any questions, and were doing so out of respect and probably some lingering crushes on Zuko. But still; that was a lot of trauma for Katara to forget about.

So she explained her new role. Apparently not well, because there had been a long pause before Cillia had asked that.

"If that's what helps you to understand my role, yeah, exactly," Katara said. In truth, she was pleased to have this comparison. So she could know what was expected of her, sorta.

There weren't many of them left, in truth. Now that Ty Lee and Toph were off somewhere else with their boyfriends, the remaining contestants seemed like such a pitiful number. It reminded Katara how close Zuko had come to possibly choosing someone else, someone besides her.

Katara looked at each of their faces, trying to read what they were feeling, how they were doing, and what Katara could offer them to help.

Suki seemed to be taking this transition the best, so effortlessly unmoved by any of it. Perhaps there was more that she was not talking about. Maybe she needed someone to talk to?

Mai was sitting apart from the rest of the girls, not in a way that felt like a gaping divide between them, but with enough space for two other people to sit between her and Suki. Even if she was now useful in the meeting room, maybe Katara could help her feel more connected to some new friends, or help her reconnect with Ty Lee. Or, maybe Katara could even swallow her slight jealousy towards her and tell Zuko that Mai really needed him as a friend right now.

Cillia looked tired. Katara wondered if she could find some bedding that was more comfortable somewhere. Admittedly, none of the beds were palace-plush, but that was something Katara could fix. A problem with a solution. She could also try to remind Cillia that it wasn't her job to fix everything right away; she often saw Cillia in the meeting room long after hours, working by candlelight, with heavy bags painted underneath her eyes.

Ratana was smiling in a way that made Katara want to roll her eyes. She was likely thinking of all the ways to torture Katara now, to treat her like a maid.

But whatever, Katara told herself. She was not going to fail Zuko on this task. She needed this task, this job. She needed to be needed, so she was going to be the best goddamn Zhi the world had seen (besides Zhi herself, of course). What she wanted to say in her mental list was that Ratana needed a good slap back into reality, but alas, those were old-Katara thoughts. As in 'Katara from yesterday' thoughts.

She had won. Katara was marrying Zuko. Ratana was not. Of course, Ratana probably didn't like her; she'd been in love with Zuko too. Katara should try to be more understanding of this, as difficult as Ratana could be.

If Ratana needed the softest pillow or the coldest water or the most perfect fruit from the dinner line, fine. That was all so immaterial compared to where her mind might be right now. It might seem stupid to Katara to wish for those things, but well, Ratana was not Katara.

And she also reminded herself that Ratana was one of the first to say no to Azula. That took a strength that could not be ignored.

Besu had been very quiet since coming here. She was quiet to begin with, but she was even more so withdrawn. Katara knew that she likely would love to make contact with the rest of the Freedom Fighters, but even if Katara could grant her that, she wouldn't. She did not like or trust Jet in any way at all. She would have to think about what she could do for Besu besides that one thing.

On Ji, who honestly Katara had almost forgotten was still there, had stayed brightly peppy. She hadn't been sent to war, so this had thrown Katara off. She remembered Alcina insisting to leave before her given time, and then belatedly remembered hearing that On Ji's departure had been pushed back by attacks indefinitely. It had been a bit startling to see her here, like a ghost, until it reminded Katara that she really just needed to be more perceptive. Katara remembered she liked baking and dancing. Maybe everyone, not just the girls, needed a little 'hey, let's celebrate, we're alive' sort of party. It had been a lot of doom and gloom since they'd arrived.

And Yue…oh, no. Yue wasn't here. She hadn't even noticed Yue was missing from her morning announcement. Great way to start her job off by miscounting the number of people she was in charge of.

"Where's Yue?"

The girls all exchanged looks. Clearly, Katara was out of the loop about something.

"She's…laying down."

"Is she okay?" Katara stood straighter. If it was an ailment, she could easily fix that.

"No, it's more of a spiritual issue," On Ji said quietly. "Her soul is hurting. She's just sad."

"Oh?"

"'Just sad' is a bit of an understatement." Suki frowned. "It's good you're here. You are her friend. We have not been able to persuade her to wake for more than mealtimes, but perhaps you can?"

"At least she's eating?" Katara said, trying to gauge how bad this was.

"Not much," Suki shook her head, "But no, she's not skipping mealtimes. Or assigned duties. It is just difficult to convince her to leave her room otherwise."

"Which room is she in?" Katara asked, pointing to the doorway that led to the bunks they were sleeping in.

"Second on the left," Mai replied.

"Okay, well, while I'm explaining my new job to her, think about what I can do for you to make your lives better. And then I'll take your answers when I return," Katara instructed.

"What if I have my answer now?" Ratana raised a hand.

"You can wait until I'm done," Katara said with a smile, though she was gritting her teeth hard.

"Fine," Ratana gave a dramatic sigh, "I hope I remember all my ideas by then…"

"I'm sure you will have quite the list for me," Katara said, taking her to leave before Ratana insisted she take down her hundreds of complaints…er, requests.

As the girls said, Yue was curled up on her bunk. She was awake, staring blankly ahead.

"Yue?" Katara asked softly.

"Katara, hi," Yue replied, her voice quiet and monotone.

"Are you…doing okay?" Katara asked, pulling up a chair near the bed. "The rest of the girls are saying you spend most of your time here."

Yue offered a smile, but it didn't seem to fully reach her eyes. "They're overly dramatic. And concerned. They have no right to be."

"Do they?" Katara frowned, "Because, well, you haven't moved at all since I came in. You haven't even lifted your head."

Yue scowled a look that was unfamiliar on her face, and dragged herself to a sitting position. "Katara, I am fine. I'm just tired. I'm a Princess from the North; I am unused to the temperatures or the expectation of labor here. I just need some adjustment time."

"Well, if there's anything I can do to help, let me know. It's my new job posting."

"To…what?" Yue blinked.

"I guess to keep you…" Happy? Well, could anyone truly be happy under these circumstances? "Contented. Comfortable. As much as any of us could. So what can I do for you?"

"Nothing. It is a kind offer."

"It's not an offer. It's my job," Katara reminded her. "So you can be truthful with me. About anything. We're still friends."

Yue looked at her closely, as though trying to figure that out herself. She took Katara's hand, patting it.

"I know, Katara. But truly, I assure you, I am just weary."

"Of the change?"

There was a pause. Not enough to be worrying, but a pause nonetheless. "Yes, of course. Of the change," Yue agreed, nodding to herself.

"Could I at least convince you to come outside for a little bit?" Katara prompted, "The sun is not too cruel today. There's a bit of a breeze."

"I am not the only one to be fussing over," Yue said, her voice suddenly sharp and strangely accusatory. "Not when Ratana has become a menace to anyone besides us. Or Mai cries at night over Zuko telling her that he cared for her deeply and then choosing you instead. Or how Suki tries to play mother but we all know she is drinking mead every night. Or how On Ji has panic attacks doing anything but the most basic tasks. You knew all that right, they told you that?"

At Katara's stunned silence, Yue continued, standing up to loom over Katara in her chair. "Or what about Cillia, who is so wracked with the guilt of disappointing her family that she has not slept in three days, trying to make up for the fact that she feels like she's not worth anything? Or Besu, who has hardly spoken at all, so much that we wondered if she forgot all of her words entirely? You know none of that, and no one else is speaking up about that. I'm the easiest solution, so let's just ignore everyone else's issues!" Yue shook her head. "But at least I am aware of the fact I am in mourning. At least I don't pretend like I'm fine when I know I need to figure some stuff out, but compared to the rest, I am perfectly fine, Katara!"

"You-,"

"And how dare you? How dare you not once think to come down to see us? How is it that days after arriving I must tell you these things, despite your claims that you are the next Zhi? I am fine, but no one else is, and someone should have said something!"

Guilt sat like a rock in Katara's stomach. Katara stood, her chair scraping back. "I…"

Yue fell back onto the bed, staring down with horror. "You did not hear any of that from me," she whispered frantically. "I didn't…"

"I'm glad you told me," Katara assured. "You're right. I should know what's going on with all of you. So we can fix these problems." She wasn't sure how she would, but now she had to figure out a way.

"I'm just saying that in perspective, you needn't worry about me," Yue said, curling back up.

"Are you sure?" Katara asked.

Yue smiled up at her. "Yes. I swear it. Those issues are bigger, so you should focus on the other girls first. Maybe by the time you help them, I'll have worked through my own storms."

"Have you talked to Arrluck or Hahn at all about this?" Katara wondered if they were facing similar struggles and could help Yue.

"Yes," Yue said. "Of course, of course," she muttered.

"Okay. Well, erm, as long as you have someone to turn to…" Katara lingered for a second.

"Katara, go. I will see you at dinner," Yue said, and Katara believed that.

She nodded, returning back out.

After Yue's honesty, it was hard to not look at everyone sitting out here with pity. She tried to cover it up, not wanting any of them to know that she knew something was amiss.

"Okay, right! Let's hear your suggestions. Smellerbee, you want to go first?" she offered, hoping to hear a few more words from her.

"I'm first!" Ratana announced, sounding offended that Katara didn't somehow 'know' this. Katara looked at the faces of everyone else, but no one seemed to be leaping to tell her their needs, so Katara was forced to motion for Ratana to follow her to where she had parchment and quill.

"Okay, Tana. Lay it on me."

She would regret that later.

The laundry list she had was almost a scroll down to her feet, most of them Ratana's requests. Some were plain unreasonable, some were easily doable, and some were frustrating but also doable.

Katara half wondered if Zuko told Ratana she could be as demanding as she pleased in an effort to keep Katara busy, and therefore feeling useful. If so, well-done, Zuko. You managed it.

It was hard to remember that Ratana had good traits when she had turned into such a demanding twat.

Katara put the list between her teeth and found a basket. Then she went to the stock room and began to pull things she knew she could do right now. Another pillow here, some glasses for water there, a blanket to make a divider on that shelf…

"Katara; looks like you have quite the load there!"

Katara turned, eyes wide, arms full, and teeth still holding the list as she saw Ursa step into the room.

"The Ladies' requests?" Ursa guessed, gingerly taking the list. She began to read, and chuckled. "Oh, poor girls…you have much to do, it seems." At Katara's confused face, she set the list back on the pile. "Zuko mentioned your new job. It was very thoughtful of him and I think there's no better person to be doing it than one of their friends. In kind, it's good to take care of those we care for."

Katara snorted. She saw Ursa's face pinched, and she immediately regretted it.

"Excuse my…disbelief, but friends?" Katara frowned. "I think you misunderstand how we all view each other."

"Oh?"

"I mean, sure, Suki's my friend. And Yue. And I guess Cillia is growing on me, but I don't have opinions on friendship other than that for her," Katara set the basket down. "But the rest…well…Mai and I aren't friends. We've been competing since day one for Zuko's heart. I know in another life he could have just as easily chosen her. We can't be friends like that. Not when I also know that Zuko did care for her, and though we picked each other, feelings don't just vanish. And he'd never cheat on me, but somewhere, I have to know that Zuko probably still has some sort of feelings for Mai." Katara began, and once she started, she seemed unable to stop. "And On Ji is immature. So child-like! Smellerbee, er, Besu…I don't trust her at all. She's sneaky and conniving and I don't know who or what side she's really on, and I don't like her family. Ratana is just…" Katara stopped short before calling her a bitch in front of her future mother-in-law. "...impossibly spoiled and terrible to me. So we're not friends."

Katara shook her head. "I will do this out of obligation and love for Zuko. But it is a mistake to think that we're all giggling sisters with each other, you know?"

Ursa was quiet, then she laughed. "You must imagine my time so differently."

Katara blinked. "Wasn't it? You knew from the beginning that Ozai would pick you. And you've spoken about how it was an expectation. Not as much room for jealousy or hurt feelings. I'm sure the other girls knew too."

"I was your age, perhaps even younger. It all sounds logical now, but during the competition? Katara, I was just the same as you are, as these girls are. Promised riches and status. Even if we knew, that's not to say that certain girls did not still fall in love with Ozai, did not hope…" She trailed off. "And I was just as pleased to be rid of them when all was said and done."

"So you understand."

"Let me offer you some advice from my old age, dear," Ursa said looking at the list. She began to help Katara pick items from the shelf. "With Mai, what do you admire about her?"

"She is so good at keeping her emotions in control. We both know I struggle with that," Katara replied easily.

"Good, and On Ji?" she prompted.

"She's…kind to everyone. And she wants the world to dance with her."

"And Ratana? And truly, you know there are things that are kind to say," Ursa added sharply.

"I do, of course," Katara sighed, "She is very passionate about what she really does care about."

"Once I married Ozai and all the girls left, I thought I would be so relieved. And I was, at first. But then, not quite loneliness settled in. I had my own friends and family around often enough, but there would be moments I would think of one of the girls who always made me laugh so hard I cried and loved humor; when one of the new noblemen made me laugh, I wished she was there to hear his jokes and give some of her own. Or, there was a girl who always knew what was the most fashionable. She could be snooty, but she never dressed anyone in clothing that was not flattering. And when I had important events, I wished she could have been there, guiding me and offering opinions. We used to all have fashion shows for her in the Ladies' Room. She'd critique and tell us how to make our clothes look even better, and she was never wrong," Ursa said with a faraway smile.

"It was exhausting with them. It was quiet without." Ursa continued, "But know this; as much as you say you are not friends with these girls, as much as you will be relieved when all this is over, you will ache for them. Perhaps friends are not the proper word; you are all sisters, and those that have made it to the Temple will share experiences that so few others will ever understand; the group that went through both the Choice and saw the world change right in front of them. You bicker, like sisters. But Katara, I assure you, these are the girls you'll be writing to when you make mistakes and think you're done for, and they'll be the ones to convince you out of your own spiral. These are the girls that will be the first names on every party guest list. These are the people who will be Aunts to your children; ask Zuko about this. He has four 'Aunts' who aren't blood-related, but former Choice contestants. You will always have these girls in your corner, even if you and even they cannot see it now."

"So I should…" Katara frowned, unsure.

"Cherish them. And be frustrated, of course, but also forgive and love them. They aren't a job. They're your family now. Not Zuko's, yours." Ursa placed her stack of items into the basket, "So treat them as such."

This one came a bit early, but I still want to give my beta the two weeks to really properly edit and make the next chapter perfect, the next chapter will drop on Friday, April 29th!