Katara threw herself down the hill, ignoring Sokka's calls to be smart about this, tearing into her former home. Their walls of protection were absolutely mushed and melted, and anything that could burn was ashy and blackened, indicating a fight had already occurred.

Katara tore through the camp, digging through the upturned fresh snow, desperate.

The winds had blown fresh snow over the battlegrounds out in the open, but in the houses and huts, where no wind had touched, dark blood had seeped into the snow. It just sat there, frosting over.

"No, no, no!" Katara shook her head, wanting to open her eyes and be greeted with a better view. The real one; the one where her tribe was celebrating their win against the Dai Li.

Sokka trod more carefully, slowly picking up torn blankets and unbraided baskets. She saw him stiffen, his whole face going white.

"Oh, fuck-" Sokka stumbled and grasped a pole sticking out of the snow, flagging sadly, and barfed out the fish they'd caught.

From his reaction, Katara knew it wasn't a Dai Li soldier he found. It was someone they knew.

Katara tried to see who he'd found, but Zuko dragged her back.

"You don't need to see that."

"Let me go!" Katara clawed. "Let me see. Is it Mom or Dad? GranGran?" she demanded, "Sokka, answer me!" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"No, no, none of them," Zuko cooed to her, "It isn't your family."

"It's Taktu," Sokka's raw voice whispered. "He was only seventeen!" He was angry, tears pooling at the corners of his eyes, rage shaking through his body at the unjustness of death, coming for those scarcely more than children.

"He was a warrior," Zuko said, leaning down and using his palms to cover the boy's eyes, staring unblinkingly into the stars above.

Had Tui come to collect him, Katara wondered. Was he up in that grand lake in the sky, watching down on them right now?

She could only stare at his face, smeared with battle paint, his fingers still clutching a spear.

"He used to run messages for my father," Katara said, her voice dull and quiet, "When he was little. He could outrun any of us…the way his legs would carry him across the tundra…"

"Well, whatever happened…no one's alive," Toph said. "Everyone that's here is…dead." Her voice cracked when she spoke. If it was meant to be a comfort...well, Toph's bedside had never been great.

"We should send our people out to sea," Sokka said, rising up. Katara stayed where she was, unable to tear her eyes off Taktu. "That's how we do our funeral rites. We put them on ice, light a torch, and send them off. The torch melts the ice and they are given back to the water, like how we came. We were born from water, into water, and we are laid to rest in it as well."

"I should do it," Zuko said. "I can," he corrected. "I don't want you to have to find your family like this."

"No, no," Sokka shrugged out his stiffness. "I want to be the one to say goodbye to everyone. It should be me."

Katara heard the unspoken words; It should be me. The son of the dead leader, chief to only spirits. It should be me. This is my job. This is my burden. These are my people.

He passed by Katara, his fingers bruising across her shoulder. "I'll come to you when it's done," he whispered.

"What of the Dai Li?" Toph asked, pulling a soldier out of the upturned snow. Sokka locked his jaw, staring at the cause of their grief with such fury, such anger. Katara could see him shaking out of the corner of her eyes, fingers clenched.

"We should put them out to sea as well," Sokka said after a long moment. "Perhaps it is punishment enough for them not to be sent to the beyond in their traditional rites. And perhaps they will feed the fish; do something good with their miserable lives."

Katara forced herself to her feet, walking unevenly through the snow, unable to look at anyone.

You did this, Katara's inner voice snarled, If you hadn't gone to the Palace, if you hadn't stayed for Zuko…your family would still be alive.

She found herself retracing that day Pan and Liao arrived; the way she walked into the village, Sokka hot on her heels, and flung herself into the council tent to find those two waiting for her. Today though, the table was cracked into many pieces, and the chairs were unrecognizable as furniture. She went and paused at the place she'd sat, indignant and naive.

Like a ghost, she floated through the ruins, to her family's hut. All their things lay smashed and ruined, not one single thing salvageable.

They must have been instructed to leave Katara's home, specifically, with nothing left for anyone. No fond memories for her to take back, no history spared.

Katara sat against the wall of her former room, fingers digging into the snow, wishing she could send herself back in time and stop herself from melting the way and leaving.

Please, Tui and La, please…

Katara's feet moved and she stood, forcing herself outside.

Sokka was scowling deeply. "There's something…off…" he said, shaking his head.

"What do you mean?" Zuko asked.

"There aren't enough bodies." Sokka turned around in a circle, "This is only…a tenth of our camp if that. No children, no elders. Only warriors."

"Don't, Sokka," Katara threatened, "Don't give me hope, not like that-"

"Wait!" Toph threw her arms out. "I feel people approaching. That way!" She pointed in the distance, where the sky met the unending ice, but no one could be seen.

Zuko raised a flat hand against his forehead over his eyes, straining to look where she was pointing.

"Friend or foe?"

"Well, geez, Sparky. I can't tell someone's allegiance just by the way you step. It's not like baddies walk differently!" Toph rolled her eyes.

"Then we'd better be ready for anyone," Sokka said, eyes narrowed. He grasped a spear that was sticking out of the snow.

"Katara, get behind me," Zuko hissed.

"I can protect myself!" Katara said, feeling something snap back into place, pulling her from this never-ending hole of grief.

"Spirits, I'm sure you can but-"

"Shh!" Sokka spun, "Noise travels on the ice," he lectured, "So shut up, both of you!"

At this point, two figures could be seen, darkened silhouettes against the roaring wind.

It seemed unlikely to be foes, as they did not run, but walked leisurely. But Katara knew to prepare for anything.

One of them cupped their hands around their mouth and called out, and their sound reached the group of four before their faces did.

"Katara!"

Katara pushed past Zuko, eyes wild. "Eva?" she yelled back. Zuko choked back surprised.

"Isn't she meant to be in the North?" he asked, but Katara was already running, grasping her coat up in her fists to have better agility, flying over the distance between them.

"Eva!" Katara repeated, throwing herself into her friend's arms, "Oh, spirits above!"

"I thought that was you," Eva said, swaying as Katara hugged her tightly. "You're alright; I'm so relieved you're alright! We were worried you were dead!"

"Me?" Katara sputtered, "We came to rescue you!"

"We have much to talk about," Eva said, pulling back, "And the spirits truly are great to lead us to you today."

"I don't…understand," Katara said, confused. "Did you just arrive?"

"No, we came out today to send off the dead," Navi said, the companion with Eva. "Eva awoke today and announced it was time. I think she is closer with the spirits since losing her sight and finding you here only confirms it."

Katara held in a grin; she remembered meeting Navi as Eva's 'roommate/assistant' in the North, and how besotted Navi had been with Eva then. Her affections had only grown, and the love she held for Eva was true. Even Toph, as blind, surely could see that, the depth of her passion hanging between her and Eva like visible strings. Katara was so grateful that one of her most beloved friends had found someone, and grateful to see that they were still together.

"Your Grandma has called me an oracle, but your dad says you'd dislike that very much," Eva teased. Katara felt tears in her throat.

"You've talked to my family?"

"They're okay, Katara. They're okay," Eva assured, grasping Katara's cheeks. Katara almost collapsed in relief. By this point, the trio remaining had made the journey across the snow.

"Where is everyone?" Sokka asked.

"Safe," Navi assured, "I can take you there now-"

"No," Sokka interjected, "At least, not me, not yet. I would like to finish my task."

"Me too," Katara insisted.

Navi looked at Zuko and Toph.

"I think we'll stay too," Zuko said and Toph nodded. "I don't know if we've met. I'm Zuko."

"Oh, Eva's told me all about you," Navi gave a loud, round laugh, "Trust me."

"Right!" Eva smacked her forehead. "Forgot only Katara met her. Everyone, meet Navi; my wife!"

Katara gasped, covering her mouth, "You got married! Eva, congratulations!"

Eva blushed, shrugging. "Turns out that the Choice did find me a match, Zuko, just not in the way I think anyone expected. If I wouldn't have lost my sight, I would have never met Navi, nor would we have come here to be truly together."

Toph went to high-five Eva, "Blind girls represent! I'm not a minority here anymore." She turned to Zuko, a playfulness despite the circumstances, "How does it feel to be the odd one out now, huh?"

"Toph, maybe...not now," Sokka said, sad, but holding back a grin at the same time. Their task was difficult as it was, but sometimes, Katara was glad that good humor still existed.

As they worked, bringing out the dead to the edge of the sea, Eva told everyone else the whole story; about how Navi had helped her overcome losing her sight, how she'd learned (much like Toph) to utilize her bending ability to help herself see, and finally she told the story of how she and Navi had rallied some like-minded people who wanted better lives and left for the Southern Water Tribe.

"We were welcomed immediately by your grandmother," Navi said. "She has been so kind to all of us. Anyone who felt like they were a misfit in the North was given a spot at the table in the South."

"I'm sure my dad is happy with some new members too," Sokka chuckled, "I used to have to go through a family tree in my head whenever I wanted to ask someone out on a date."

They worked until the sky was darkening. Katara was able to say goodbye, properly, to eighteen of her tribe, eighteen too many. She was only pushed forward with the knowledge that many more were safe, somewhere hidden.

As was tradition, they did not move or speak until the icebergs carrying the fallen could no longer be seen on the horizon, taken and led by Tui's hands into grand foreverness.

"Can I please ask what happened now?" Eva asked as she led them out of the former camp.

"I want to ask the same of you," Sokka said, "Though I imagine our stories will overlap. But first; where are you staying? I didn't see any camps coming in…"

"You'll see. And I don't say it to be mean, more that it is difficult to explain in words where it is, but you will understand soon. As for what happened to us; one day, we just stopped receiving information from the Palace. We are entirely in the dark about what has happened, but we know now it must be the worst-case scenario, considering the Dai Li who attacked."

Katara frowned; she had not imagined the reality that her tribe would have gotten no information about the fall of the Palace. Her parents must have been turned inside out with worry about her and Sokka. She knew that Ursa may have tried to write, but even under non-malicious circumstances, receiving letters was spotty out here.

"Azula launched a coup," Zuko said darkly. "We thought it was Ozai, but it…" he swallowed, "Wasn't."

"Ozai was killed in the battle," Katara said quickly, not a lie. "But it was revealed that it was Azula the entire time. She did intend to kill us, however, we were rescued, along with the rest of the ladies from the Choice. Except for Nadhari; she sided with Azula."

"That bitch," Navi snarled, "I've heard a lot about her too." She glanced at Eva, still with her short-cut hair, and Eva twirled a strand of it around her finger.

"I'm hardly surprised," she said quietly at the news.

"We've been at the Southern Air Temple since then…but we got the news that the Dai Li was coming towards you, and well…" Katara winced, rubbing the back of her head.

"You did something very rash but very brave?" Eva guessed with a twinkle in her laugh.

"What a surprise, huh?" Toph grinned.

"So what has become of the world now?" Navi asked.

"Azula is the Fire Lord. She's vying for domination, of course," Zuko said snappishly, though not angrily at them. "And we're on the run, I guess."

"I mean, there's been other stuff too. Airbenders, magical spiritual water, Aang, Yue-" Toph began to list.

"What of Yue?" Eva asked, "She's alright, isn't she?"

"Err…" Toph gulped, "Yeah…fine!"

"I may not be able to tell if someone is lying as you can, Toph, but I surely know when I'm being told an untruth," Eva said sharply.

"She didn't take it well, the whole battle…the coup…" Katara decided honesty was best. "She ended up killing someone to protect herself in the battle. She was struggling." Katara felt guilt once again; she should have been more perceptive and helped her friend. Instead, she'd been caught up in her own worries.

"That's quite distressing," Eva said. "And very bad news indeed. I hope…" She shook her head. "I don't know what exactly I hope, but...that is truly awful."

Abruptly, Eva stopped.

"We're here."

Sokka spun around, leaning into Navi, "Is it because she's blind-"

Navi chuckled, a wide smile spread across her face. "You of little faith," she teased back.

Eva took her staff and made two swift jabs to the ice. On the third, she dug it into the snow and twisted it.

In front of them, the ground split in two, the ice cleaving away from itself, to reveal…stairs leading downward.

"After you," Eva said, waving a hand to the guests.

Katara frowned, curious, and was the first to descend. Zuko next, then Toph, and finally Sokka.

As they turned a kink in the steps, Katara felt her breath taken from her throat. She paused, staring out, grasping for words.

Language found Sokka first, "You went underground!"

They were in a large ice cavern; a huge space deep into the earth, with beautifully crafted houses made from snow and ice, and a bustling city full of certainly more people than had been there when Katara had left.

"How many people came with you?" she asked, amazed.

"Well," Eva tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "The North is owned by the Fire Nation, and shocker, there are lots that have no lost love for them. No offense, Zuko."

"Entirely none taken," Zuko muttered, "I don't have fond feelings for the Fire Nation either right now."

"We brought a few waterbenders too," Navi added, "And without them, I don't think this would have happened."

"It's amazing!" Sokka was practically foaming at the mouth. "The architecture! The ingenuity! The whole thing!"

They reached the bottom. Toph's lips split into a wide grin, "Earth!" She grabbed Sokka's arm, "Real, Southern Water Tribe Dirt! It's a holiday miracle! I can see everything…and damn, is this impressive."

Katara spun in a circle, staring up, up, up at the place they'd come from, high above them. It was at least a hundred feet deep, tucked far away from those that would hurt them.

"Wow…" Zuko let out a long breath. "Wonders never cease."

"It was all Eva's idea…" Navi nudged her wife.

"You saved us," Katara said, turning. "You saved my people…I can never repay this debt. I'm…you've…" She pulled Eva into a long hug again, overcome with joy.

If she had never gone to the palace, she would have never met Eva, who would have never done this unrepayable favor.

As much as things turned out for the worst, sometimes Katara had to remind herself they worked out for the best too.

"My babies!"

There was the sound of clattering baskets, and Katara turned to see her mother running down the main street.

"Mom!" Katara inhaled hard. She hadn't seen her mother since she'd left and was glad to see she looked exactly the same as when she'd gone.

Her mother pulled Katara and Sokka into a three-way hug, kissing them all over, switching between adoring 'I love yous' and chastising mutterings about how much she worried about them.

"I can't believe you're all alive here," Katara said, "It feels unreal! I almost believe we've all died and gone to Adlivun, it's almost...too good to be true."

"Not dead. Very much alive. Come, come, your father will want to see you as well," Kya said, grasping their hands. She turned, noticing the two travelers.

"Kya…" Zuko did a deep, respectful bow, "Ma'am."

"I'm Toph. Nice to meet you," Toph held out her hand, biting her lip, the most nervous Katara had ever seen her.

"I'm so glad to welcome friends of Katara and Sokka here," Kya said brightly, "Come, come now! We must have a feast!"

Katara raised an eyebrow, sending a look back at Sokka. Friends? She understood why her parents wouldn't know about her and Zuko specifically (though she was sure her father had his guesses), but surely…

Sokka was bright red in the face.

As Kya led them down the main path, Katara couldn't help but marvel at what her tribe had become. It was almost as grand as the Northern Water Tribe, with houses carefully constructed, and seemed to resemble a city instead of just a smattering of huts.

"Here's the council house," her mother said, "Isn't it just grand?"

"Woah…" Sokka said, standing back to admire it. The building was pearly white and reflected the sun shining through the ice at the top of the ravine, making it practically glimmer.

"They're just inside…go," Kya encouraged, eager.

The reunion with their grandmother and their dad was long and full of many tears.

In the midst of large family hugs, Katara noticed Zuko hanging back, grief and guilt written across his face.

She pulled away from her father, but he was too perceptive not to notice.

"Ah, Zuko, come here," He said, waving a hand forward.

"Sir...I..." Zuko's breath caught in his throat, "I'm so sorry-,"

Hakoda's forehead crinkled in confusion, "Sorry? Whatever for?"

"We caused you to have to abandon your city. We killed your people. We put you through hell and we starved you out and-,"

"You did none of that," Hakoda insisted firmly, "And if you think that I would blame you, well, Katara has not shared enough stories of me."

"Or just enough, Dad, to scare him half to death," Sokka sighed.

"Zuko, we know from everyone we've met that you are nothing like your father or anyone launching such coups. I think, had you been the Fire Lord, I would have been proud to forge a future with you. Overall, however, we are just all so relieved you are safe."

"You...are?" Zuko said, still unsure like he was sure it was a trap.

"You will always have a place here. And if anyone dislikes it, well," Hakoda gave a grin, "I am the Chief and I will make them apologize. You are an honorable man, and I am so happy you made it out unscathed."

Katara could see something breaking inside Zuko, some strange mixture of relief and disbelief, as he accepted a handshake from Hakoda.

She understood...in his family, all those words would be a deception. But her family were not liars. If they said they held no ill will toward him, Katara believed it and she hoped Zuko would too.

Preparations were made immediately for a meal of celebration, and they were led to a dining room, something Katara had never previously had. She was surprised to find some furniture that was Earth Kingdom in nature.

"We had quite a good trade with the Earth Kingdom for a while," Hakokda said, seeing her careful eye, "Fire Nation too, actually."

"Please, please someone tell me how this all happened?" Sokka asked, "I'm dying to know!"

"Well, when Eva arrived with her friends, we had been in talks for a while about how to modernize the South, now that we were thriving on the food sent our way and the trade routes opened up," Hakoda said. "And she pitched this idea early on…she'd found this ravine when she was out exploring and thought with a bit of work, it may function quite well as a city. At that time, we didn't know it would be so…" His eyes darkened, "Necessary. But she and the other waterbenders set to work."

"We originally didn't plan to move camp for a few moons," Kya said, "The garden wasn't set up, and we hoped to capture some herds to domesticate, but our plans changed quickly."

"The Dai Li?"

"No, luckily it was far before that," Navi said. "As soon as the shipment was late, the usual one of the food and grain, we knew something was wrong. And when it did arrive, it was just…" She frowned. "Well, Eva felt something. She urged us to move early."

"Good thing we did," Hakoda said sincerely. "I was hesitant at first, since it was a long procedure and many people were not willing to change our ways, but by the time the Dai Li came…we weren't at camp."

"Though it is truly heartbreaking," Kya said, "In some ways, the spirits were looking out for us. We sent a small group out to collect some final items; only warriors, in case people came our way, looking to hurt us. When they didn't return…we knew it must be the worst."

"The Dai Li is gone," Eva said. "I heard them retreating and some spies overhead their conversations. As you said, Sokka, sound travels differently on the ice and they were unprepared for that. It meant we could observe from a distance. They assumed they found us all; that the South must have been nearly dead and snuffed out from the lack of food. They assumed they killed all that remained."

"But we are here, clearly," Hakoda said with a grin. "And for now, we will remain quietly, here, in secret."

"Let Azula think she won," Zuko agreed with a hard nod, "Let everyone think that they managed to wipe out the South too."

Katara knew it would break her heart to have to lie and pretend like she'd lost everyone, but until Azula was taken down, her family wouldn't be safe if she told even Iroh.

"We honor the dead every night," Kya said, "They did not know when they went out that they would give our lives to protect us. I do sometimes fear that if the Dai Li found no one, they wouldn't have stopped…"

"But because they found some…" Katara trailed off, "What a horrible blessing to be faced with," she said sincerely.

"Now, your turn," Hakoda said, "What actually did happen?"

So, they went through everything about the coup again, though perhaps a bit more sanitized than what they told Eva. Enough to get the point across. It was foolish to think that they could avoid worrying their parents, but neither Sokka nor Katara seemed willing to dive into the grittier parts, and Zuko nor Toph was willing to cross that line.

Still, Hakoda and Kya exchanged worried looks.

"It is no worse than we thought," Kya finally sighed, "Because we assumed the absolute worst. But it does mean that we must tread carefully."

As food was brought out, the room had warmed to almost uncomfortable temperatures with their parkas on. Katara shed hers, as did Sokka. She had the passing thought that Zuko must be burning. Toph was likely at the perfect temperature, though.

A strangled cry left her mother's lip, "Sokka! Your arm!"

Sokka looked down at his burns, eyes bulging. It seemed he'd forgotten about them. Even Katara did sometimes; it was almost startling to her to see those burns snaking up his arm and up his neck, from where Zuko had ended the Agni Kai with him. Like a snake it curled around his biceps, healed but not pretty.

Zuko sunk deep into his chair.

"What happened?" Hakoda gasped, "Did it occur during the coup?"

Katara turned, eyebrows raised. "Yes, Sokka, did it?" It was clear that her parents were unaware that Sokka had left with Toph after the Agni Kai. Katara hadn't told them; it didn't seem her place to. She assumed he would, but, well, they were still under the illusion he'd been at the palace with Katara at Azula's battle. And of course, she didn't want to get Zuko in trouble (she doubted Sokka would sink so low as to blame him, and not his own foolish circumstances that led to it, as much as she disagreed about the course of punishment).

"Right, yeah, uhm…" Sokka coughed uncomfortably. "There were some things that never really seemed like the right time to talk about over letter…" He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well?" Hakoda asked, putting his fork down.

Katara could see him flail. Toph was grinning; clearly not upset that he hadn't announced their relationship. Katara figured Toph couldn't care less about labels, and both of them knew it wasn't because Sokka was embarrassed by her.

He was just nervous he'd been caught in a white lie.

He winced…and then, pointed at Zuko, panicking. Finding something much better to take the attention off him in true brotherly fashion, he blurted, "Zuko proposed to Katara!"

XXX

Zuko awoke to a cold breeze and the warmth of furs against his skin. His dreams were, once again, a plague against his mind.

He had not gotten a single night of good sleep since his father's death.

Easing out of bed, he grabbed a knitted top from the floor, pulling it over his head. The sun was out, shining and reflecting into the city, and Zuko was awake.

He stumbled into the kitchen, nodding to Kya as she brewed tea. She was always up early, making breakfast for her family, and he'd fallen into a comfortable pattern with her. It was day five of waking up in the Southern Water Tribe.

He'd seen little of Katara since they'd arrived. She and Sokka had thrown themselves into helping their tribe; the move underground, while probably better in the long run, had not been fully fruitful, as their timeline had been shoved up frantically. People were still living squashed together while the houses were being finished, the gardens still needed the expertise to grow so far underground, and now that the Dai Li had passed, there were discussions of going out to find the herds, as originally decided.

He didn't know how long they intended to say, but Zuko wasn't going to push. He knew he'd be the bad guy if he suggested leaving before Katara was ready, and he wanted to give her this time with her family.

And if she decided to stay, indefinitely? Well…he'd cross that bridge later.

Zuko was just glad to be of use here. He was grateful he wasn't thrown out into the snow, along with Toph, after the colorful welcome-back dinner.

It had started to go downhill with Sokka's tattling, and from there it became a spat between siblings to unearth every naughty thing the other had done while away from their parent's watchful eyes.

Toph had found it invigorating, while it had just made Zuko want to disappear into the earth, never to be seen again. It wasn't just their laundry that had been aired…he and Toph were linked to a lot of these stories.

But, every owlcat was out of the bag, now. No more secrets, right?

Except yours, Zuko...

He squashed down that nasty, bothersome thought.

Obviously, he was not allowed to sleep in the same bed as Katara, even though it had come out that both Sokka and Katara slept in the same bed as their significant others, abandoning their own beds at the temple for different accommodations.

"Under my roof, we will have propriety," Hakokda had commanded, "Great spirits of La!"

Zuko was alright with this, although he felt guilty to think that. He was in a strange, unfamiliar land that should hate him and everything his family stood for – he should want to be close to Katara more than ever…but, their fight still stung, and he was proud. Too proud.

He knew he should just apologize, but sometimes he wondered if this was better.

He and Kya chatted casually about their plans for the day. He tried to eat only a smidgen, knowing that they were still rationing, but Kya insisted that he get a full 'warrior's meal'. She reminded him of his mother in many ways, the way she cared so deeply.

Hakota and Bato came down next, and then GranGran - though she just took a cup of tea out to her rocking chair - and then Toph, Sokka, and finally Katara. He knew Katara was not a morning person, and was always grumpy in the morning. She was usually so put-together at the palace, it did thrill him to see her so casually like this.

"I'll be helping Eva and the other benders finish the schoolhouse today," Katara said to him, though her tone was clipped, "Toph's putting up some walls too."

"Okay," Zuko nodded, waiting for her to ask him to join. But she had no reason to; the last thing an ice city needed was a firebender around.

Kya watched their interaction. Katara looked like she was going to say more, but left without speaking, her lips pressed thin.

Kya had been told by Toph that Katara and Zuko had fought, but Zuko had no idea how much more she knew. Luckily, she didn't press.

"Why don't you spend the day with me?" she asked, "I'm drying herbs and you'd be very helpful, Zuko. And I'm cooking a city-wide meal…how does that sound?"

Zuko knew she was humoring him, but was grateful not to be left to his own devices. Usually, he and Toph just kicked around together, but it seemed Katara had found usefulness in her ability to raise walls from the earth.

"Thanks, Kya."

He followed Katara's mother around all day, doing whatever tasks she set him upon; carefully drying and bottling herbs for healing and stew, tenderizing seal meat for their dinner, carefully heating the stew so it simmered just right and stirring it methodically every ten minutes…he now had a greater understanding of why Katara enjoyed tasks like hemming dresses so much. There was something relaxing in falling into rhythmic patterns, taking a slower time with life than he was used to, and getting the chance to talk in between.

He met most of the village women, who all were used to him by now, and he was eagerly brought in as someone to tell stories to that others had heard a thousand times. But they were all new to Zuko, who secretly delighted in the fact he was part enough of the tribe to be trusted with this age-old tradition.

It gave him a sense of belonging that, to be honest, he had never felt in the Palace.

"Why don't you bring Katara some lunch?" Kya asked after a few hours, "Along with the rest? I'm sure they're all hungry."

Zuko packed the soup in a bowl, holding it between his palms to keep it warm as he made the journey to the schoolhouse. Katara, along with six other waterbenders, was creating worlds right in front of his eyes; creating walls out of nothing, high above his head, packing it against the rock structures that Toph created.

"Lunch time!" one of the waterbenders said, spotting Zuko, "I'm hungry!"

He was quickly overrun by not just those working at the school, but anyone in range. Hakoda and Sokka were drawn in, coming back from a scouting expedition to find traveling herds, and Zuko helped dole out portions for everyone.

"I've missed this," Sokka said, inhaling deeply, "Food in the Fire Nation just isn't the same."

There was indeed something hearty and warm about the food here, not just in the literal sense, but in the way that it made Zuko feel like every meal brought up long-forgotten memories of family and unity. It was like there was an itch of a past he couldn't remember but knew, somewhere, he'd had.

He wondered if he - as in the Blue Spirit - had ever been a proper waterbender in a past life. Maybe that's why this held such nostalgia for him.

Even if he wasn't talking to Katara, he was always aware of where she was. Even as he continued to portion out lunch, he kept one eye flickering her way, just…just because.

She was currently eating with Eva and Tapeesa. She'd reunited with all the former Northern Water Tribe girls, as all of them had decided to follow Eva south. Even Maiha was here, looking a little out of place, what with having grown up in the Fire Nation. Her father had come back here after her dismissal, thinking that perhaps a return to both their roots was needed, though Zuko could tell Maiha was regretting that decision now.

Still, he could tell that Katara was greatly enjoying connecting with Kilee, Saorise, and Tapeesa, having missed them all perhaps more than she even knew.

He watched a boy walk toward the trio of girls with a sense of movement and that was enough to make Zuko turn his attention fully.

He had a bad feeling about this; Eva was obviously very clearly married (and everyone gushed about how cute of a couple they were) and Tapeesa had also gotten hitched to her previous offer not long after she returned; she now had a one-year-old.

So, there was only one person sitting there that he would be walking toward with such gusto, and that was Katara.

He watched Katara politely greet him, though it was clear she didn't want to be bothered right now.

"Katara, I must make my heart clear. This tribe needs a strong mother to its people, and there is no one any of us trusts more than you. I believe I can be the partner you need to bring prosperity to our great nation; will you marry me?"

He presented a necklace to her with a big flourish. It was masterfully carved, and admittedly quite beautiful. Even though betrothal necklaces were more commonly known as a Northern tradition, apparently they had significantly caught on since the merge from Eva's boats.

Zuko felt jealousy course through him. He ought to rip that boy limb from limb!

"Woah, brother," Sokka said, jumping up, and grasping Zuko's arms, "No murder today, okay?" He shoved Zuko away.

"But-"

"She's gunna say no, meathead. Duh," Sokka tried to soothe him, though not very well.

Zuko saw Katara shake her head before Sokka shoved him into an unfinished house across the way.

Hakoda came in a moment later, seeing the pair of boys, and raised an eyebrow.

"Do I even want to know?" Hakoda asked, exhausted.

"The proposal," Sokka clarified, "Kallik got a little too bold. Which, honestly, I think he's insane. Katara? Pfft! Even if she never went to the Palace, she could do so much better than him."

Hakdoka gave a loud groan, "Third this week. I'm grateful that all the girls are waiting for Sokka to ask someone, and I don't have to play interception for the two of you."

Zuko felt his temper flare again. "Third? Third?!" he demanded, spinning around to Sokka, "Why didn't you say anything? Why in the name of Agni are people proposing to my fiancee left and right?"

"Why didn't I tell you? Because I thought surely Katara would! I thought you two would sit up laughing about it all night, man!" Sokka squinted, throwing up his hands, "And why are they proposing? It's just…a thing. You know, post-war, people get a little bit of security and everyone starts to couple up…have you noticed the number of pregnant women around here?" he said.

"I'm not…That didn't answer my question. And we're mid-war, not post."

"Technically I did," Sokka said, absolutely infuriatingly, "People are looking for strength and there's no one stronger than Katara. Plus, to marry into the ruling family would be…quite the feather in the cap. Plus, she's even more 'wanted' since she's been to the Fire Nation and back. Makes her 'interesting'."

"But she's engaged to me!"

"And who the heck knows it?" Sokka snorted. "Be real, man. You guys have barely acted like a couple since you've arrived. It's not like you're so annoying PDA that people are begging you to separate. As far as the village boys know, you're just Katara's weird Fire Nation friend who could burn down their house if you sneezed the wrong way. And if they sniff a hint of romance, they're jumping on it now, hoping to get in on it before you two figure it out…that is if you were still being doofuses."

Hakoda placed a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "My son has no tact, but sadly is right. If it wasn't clear from Katara, I do give you my blessing, son. I know you make Katara happy, and whatever tiff you're having will soon pass."

"Thank you, sir," Zuko said. "I meant to find a good time to ask…" he trailed off.

"The real question is…are you going to fight for her?" Hakoda asked, "And I do not mean by going and punching Kallik."

"He'd totally deserve it, though," Sokka muttered.

Zuko met Hakoda's gaze.

"Do you love my daughter?" he prompted.

"Since the day she attacked me the first time we met," Zuko said with a warm grin. Hakoda looked distressed, and Zuko realized that no one knew about that first night in the gardens.

Ah, a story for another day.

He thought of everything in the Choice, all leading up to now.

"Sir?" Zuko said, a thought hitting him suddenly, "What material does one use to carve a betrothal necklace? And with what tools?"

Hakoda beamed with pride, "I was waiting for you to ask. Come with me; I'll show you what to do. I'll let Kya know you've found a more important task to spend your afternoon on."

When Zuko asked publicly two days later, with a betrothal necklace carved with an imprint of two fish, swimming around each other on precious blue stone, Katara grinned.

And, at that moment, all their fights just seemed to melt away, just briefly for that one perfect second.

"Always, yes, you idiot," she said, leaning up to kiss him in front of everyone.

"Looks like there's going to be a royal wedding!" Bato said, cheering.

"I don't think I'm a Prince as of now. At least Azula would have something to say about that," Zuko winced.

"What?" Bato blinked at Zuko. "I'm not talking about you…she's not marrying into your royal family, you're marrying into hers," he winked, "You're about to be the son-in-law of the chief, and that my friend, is the true definition of a royal wedding."

"Oh…" Zuko furrowed his brow, "Yeah, I can…I can understand that."

"You've done it now," Katara groaned. "If there's one thing Bato likes most, it's throwing a good party, and you've just given him the go-ahead to throw a huge one."

"Can I?" Zuko asked, holding up the necklace.

He could feel her tremble as he unclasped her grandmother's necklace, something he'd seen on her neck nearly every day since meeting her. It felt like a big deal, putting his necklace around her.

It looked like it was meant to be there.

"What will become of that one?" he asked, watching Katara carefully put it in her pocket.

"I'll save it. Give it to our daughter one day," she said with a warm, soft grin.

At that moment, there was nothing in the world that told Zuko they wouldn't reach such a day.

But for just today, he liked exactly where they stood.