Zuko

I wake up early, and once I'm sure everyone else is still deep asleep I get up and dressed and shake Sokka's shoulder.

"Sokka!" I say, putting my hand over his mouth because I know how dramatic he can be when he gets woken up. "Get dressed. Meet me outside." I say and get up. He glares at me and groans from getting woken up, but does as I ask. Kovu trots after him outside.

"What is it? Long days, short nights, ring a bell?"

"I need your help catching thirteen Wolf-Horses." I say, he just looks at me with a slack jaw and one eyebrow raised.

"I must have midnight sun madness, you want me to what?"

"You heard me right. After thirteen months of arguing, negotiating, and kicking several grown men's asses in Agni Kai's, I finally got the Fire Sages to approve of a marriage between me and Katara. Your dad said he'd give his blessing for it too, once she was sixteen, which she now is. I came here to propose. And if the story of the White Wolf Horse is Katara's favorite, I want to do the same thing for her that Hakoda did for Talla."

"Skipping over my excitement that you're proposing because I'm tired and cranky at being woken up and I kinda figured that's why you came here anyways. Zuko do you know how crazy hard it is to capture one wild wolf horse, let alone thirteen?"

"I don't care how long it takes. My Mother can handle running the nation. I'll stay here until we have them captured and tamed. And I want to find a white one."

"Capture and Tamed? Zuko, this is going to take like a year, maybe more. And I'm not sure it'll be possible to find a white one."

"We'll try. If a year is what it takes, then that's what it takes."

"Wow. Okay."

"But don't let Katara or anyone else find out about this. Not even your dad."

"Are you sure you want to do this? Like Katara said, Bride Prices aren't really something we have to do anymore."

"Maybe not, But it's something she'll never forget."

"How are you going to explain being here for a year?"

"Diplomacy. Vacation. Time with my betrothed. Starting tomorrow I'm going with your dad to get the tribe's approval. Wait, that's just Wolf Cove, right? Not every Village in the entire Southern Water Tribe?"

"Yeah, Just Wolf Cove. And I'll have to teach you how to ride Wolf Horses. Not at all the same as Appa. I only just started learning a year ago when we got back from the war and started herding them again.

"I'll make sure to pass a formal law in the Fire Nation against poaching by the way. I know it won't be able to fix the past, but I'm not going to pretend it didn't happen and do nothing about it now."

"Thanks, Zuko. Look, we'll start with the Wolf Horses tomorrow after you finish with my dad and do whatever epic proposal I'm sure you have planned for Katara. Right now, me and Kovu are going back to sleep." He says and scoops up the puppy. "Aren't we buddy? Yes we are. Oh yes we are." He says in baby talk, then gets quiet when he goes back inside. I follow him and lay down.

A year in the South Pole. One more year and I can finally bring her home with me. One year of the freezing cold. Looking at Katara sleeping peacefully across from me, It'll be worth every second.

…..

The next day, Hakoda sends Katara out with Sokka on an all day fishing trip, much to her protest. Once they're gone, the two of us start visiting every member of the tribe. A few of the men who were warriors and fought against my nation were understandably hesitant, but with Hakoda vouching for me and reminding them that under my leadership the Fire Nation not only helped rebuild their homes, but also helped keep the North from colonizing them, they agree. When we leave the last house, Hakoda smiles at me and claps me on the shoulder.

"Welcome to the family."

"Thanks." I smile, a huge burden being lifted off my shoulders now that all the formalities are out of the way. We start walking back to the hut.

"So do you have a betrothal necklace yet? I could teach you to carve one."

"I do. But it's made of gold, I forged it myself. And I made her a ring, which is what married couples in the Fire Nation wear. I wasn't sure if she'd want a new necklace since she wears her mother's to keep her close."

"That makes sense. And Zuko?" He asks, stopping his walk and turning to face me.

"Thank you for honoring our traditions. Even though I'm sure she'll visit, I'm going to miss my daughter. And I wouldn't have given my blessing if you didn't make the effort you did to honor our tribe's customs. And although she loves our tribe, Katara is headstrong and doesn't like things standing in her way. If you had asked her last year, she would have married you then. But you gave me two more years with my daughter. You'll forever have my thanks for this, Zuko."

"You're welcome." I say, and reach out my arm. He clasps it and we shake. Personally, I like this better than the FIre Nation greeting of bowing. Can't say that outloud, though. The Fire Sages are frustrated with me enough as it is.

"Is there anything you need help with before you propose tonight?"

"On my end, no sir. But your mother mentioned the Tribe will have a party waiting for us when we get back. You can see if she needs any help with it. I told her it wasn't necessary, but she said it was another custom that wasn't optional." I tell him. He laughs.

"It's true. Katara would be disappointed if she didn't have a betrothal party."

"Well then I'm glad for it."

"Good. Well, good luck, Zuko. I'll go help my mother. We'll see you tonight."