*WARNING*
In this reality Aang took up the robe of avatar, he is now, in fact a very old man, who has been fighting trying to stop the fire nation from taking over the other nations. So far he has succeeded, and finally even the bloodthirsty Ozai has relented, and come forward to the table to negotiate. As the negotiations proceed, the biggest rifts to heal are those between that of the water tribes, and the fire nation. It has also becoming increasingly clear, that these rifts will likely never heal without a lasting, bond.
A political marriage, however, those in command realize that
The two teenagers in question may not like their plans. There are two, things that they did not count on.
Avatar Aang refuses to come to the negotiating table, stating that he refuses to trust the fire nation, on the grounds that they destroyed one of the Air Nation temples, and everyone in it, he would not help until everyone involved, had been brought to him for removal of their bending. The Avatar is now considered rouge, and is being hunted by all nations.
No one knows where he now resides.
The other thing they did not count on, is the hearts and minds of the two teenagers in question.
This story is my own interpretation of things that could happen.


I never, said I'd lie and wait forever
If I did we'd be together now

(Katara’s point of view)
*FLASHBACK*
I first saw Zuko when we were negotiating our marriage. It had taken awhile for the proposal to even be brought up, though everyone had known it was inevitable. My father and grandfather had staved it off by stating that I could not be married before my older brother, Sokka. It was traditional to marry off the older child first, and fortunately that had worked, until a few months into my 14th year, when Sokka at 17, had announced that he intended to marry, Princess Yue (16).
When asked how he intended to do that, seeing as how, Yue was already engaged. He hadn't needed to say a thing, instead Yue's father, has simply smiled and told them that the engagement had been broken off, when the young man had been found kissing another solider.
So Sokka got his deepest wish, and though they hemmed-and-hawed, the water tribe council were secretly happy for them both, After all, they had been thru so much, we all had. Unfortunately, it left a wide-open door that the fire nation was only to happy to exploit.
The first time I saw the members of the fire nation, I was frightened, I had thought the man who might soon become my husband would be with them. Instead, it was only his father, uncle, and older sister. They were impressive in their many shades of reds, and blacks, but I had read up on their culture,
At first, because I had wanted to know about the people who had slain my mother, and then because they were trying to bring peace to the table. It had taken a lot but things had finally cooled enough that they sent their princess Azula, to mingle with the only other girls, around her age, Yue and I.
Things were awkward, but as we showed her around our city, Yue noticed that thought the princess’s clothes were impressive and beautiful; they were made of silk, which must have been cold and uncomfortable in the frigid north. "We have and old style fire nation uniform, it is probably much warmer than the ceremonial robes you are wearing." Yue had told her kindly, and lead her to her own rich suite allowing her to use it to change. When she came out she was tugging on them, bus she smirked a little telling us that they were, at least adequate. She was still frosty, but it was a start. We finally broke thru though, when we were showing her an ice garden and she stepped into a snow drift, which was about waist deep. There had been some boys who had seen, and they started laughing cruelly. She flushed, and soon she began to panic, if she fell too far she could be buried in it and at the very least get severe frostbite. As she started to pull herself out, I twitched my fingers, helping her up with a little push. The boys had stopped with their cruel remarks and started to walk away, once they were close to the door, they suddenly slipped on a spot of ice and fell, one of them into the river. They were all fine, but thoroughly embarrassed. There was no sudden change in Azula’s attitude after that, but she did speak of her home, and her brother, more often. The negotiations were also slightly smoother.

Zuko came almost a year, later after the marriage proposal, and negotiations, were winding down, and there was no real way to get out of them graciously. I saw him step off his father's metal tub, and flushed, he was very handsome, his hair was shaved, but for a small triangle, that was pulled into a long ponytail, and held into place, with a red band and the heir's crown held it into place, he had golden eyes like his father, but they seemed softer, he held himself gracefully enough, but it was awkward, and he watched us as curiously as we watched him. I got the feeling that he was staring more intensely at me, then he stepped off the path making the same mistake his sister had, not so long ago.
When we had all walked in, side by side, I was nervous, and tried to nonchalantly, to glance at him. He caught me doing it however and instead of glaring smiled at me. My heart went to my throat, and though I felt my own lips twitch in response, I faced forward; I would not smile at someone of the same race as those who had killed my mother. At the table Yue told me that the fire nation, had handed over the leaders of the force that had attacked the Southern Water tribe. I smiled at that, and when I saw the prince, Zuko, I was able to smile at him more freely at him.
He had perked up and began to pay attention.
The first time I was alone with him, was after our engagement had been officially announced, and the engagement party and pomp were all over. It was also, completely by accident.
The bridge I was walking on was covered in a layer of fresh, crunchy snow, I was watching my blue boots crunch in it and thinking apprehensively of my future, heading toward the spirit pond to meditate, when I saw someone else, tucked away by a corner in the wall. It wasn't obvious that it was him at first, he had been growing his hair out, and at first glance, he looked like anyone else, until you saw the scar, and his red furred coat.
He was sitting cross-legged, watching the water run by glumly, head in his hands. I felt my feet turning toward him, even though I prayed for my heart to harden. It couldn't, and something about his lone figure, pulled sorrowfully at my heart-strings.
"Prince Zuko?" I said tentatively, putting my hand on his shoulder, he hadn't even noticed me approaching. He jumped a little then turned to look at me. Was it my imagination, or was there a slight glimmer of tears in his eyes? Unfortunately, those golden orbs narrowed hostilely at me, and any trace of the tears were now gone.
"May I help you, Princess Katara?" he asked stiffly, standing up and brushing off stray bits of snow, off his red, special made, water tribe robes.
"I..." I stammered trying to think of a good reason to be speaking to him un-chaperoned. Oh hell. I thought, might as well tell the truth. "Look, Zuko I wanted to be able to speak to you before we were married, without any stiff regulations, or anyone to tell us what to say."  He looked at me as if I were insane, then a small thin smile crossed his face.
"What do you want to speak about then?" he asked, a tad shyly. I just gaped at him like a fish out of water. I was completely flabbergasted, I hadn't expected to even get this far. I said the first thing that I could think of.
"What were you thinking about?  You looked...” I paused, searching for the right word, I had almost said sad, but then figured, he might not like it that I had seen his emotions so easily, so I sad something else." lonely, sitting over there by yourself." I said softly. Oh, great I thought to myself, like lonely is any better. He stiffened up, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Does it really matter to you? “He said hotly, staring down at me in anger.
I swallowed back my own harsh response, and replied. "I will be your wife soon, I wanted to learn about you, good and bad, and I would be a bad fiancé if I ignored you." I replied, a bit frigidly, just to let him know that I wasn't completely happy with the anger. He looked at me, and his eyes softened, a little bit, I could see him struggling inwardly, and then he answered me very softly.
"I was thinking of my mother." he almost whispered.  My heart ached at those words. Everyone had heard about what happened to Lady Ursa. Iroh had lost his son withdrew his troops from Ba-Sing Se, he had been so grief-stricken, that he had gone to his father, and in front of his family, and the entire Fire Nation council, he had abdicated the throne.
His grandfather, Azulon, had gone insane at the words, and tried to attack Iroh, calling him a coward, and a pathetic man. When Iroh had refused to retract his abdication, he'd attacked those nearest him, killing several guards, a noble, and then attacked Zuko himself. He'd burnt Zuko's face, and almost killed him, but Ursa had jumped in, shielding her son, and horribly taking his “punishment” on her own body. It had only been a few months after that, that tentative peace treaty negotiations were being spoken of.
I blinked, wanting to reach out to him. I put my arm on his, and thought of something, on the spur of the moment.
"You know how the fire nation throws a party separately, for the bride and groom, the night before they are married?" he looked at me, blinking too fast. He clearly didn't see where this was going.
I smiled broadly, my eyes twinkling. "We have a similar but somewhat different custom." he still looked a bit lost, but his eyes perked up, as he saw where it was going. "We throw a wild festival for both bride and groom together." He started to grin, the pain slowly being chased from his eyes.
"We shouldn't be alone together un-chaperoned." he mused, I opened my mouth to say something but he cut me off, " however, we will never be able to speak freely with a chaperone around, or really enjoy a festival like that one with a paranoid adult hovering around us." My grin grew wider, and I moved to stand beside him, he had a rebellious streak, like mine. I helped him out, hoping against hope he would say yes.
"A lot of people dress up as different mythological figures, most of the costumes, cover your face." I said helpfully, "and no one would expect us to be there, seeing as they think, I’m in my room, and I have a pretty shrewd guess, that no one knows where you are, either." he smiled, mischievously, and my heart almost stopped, he was beautiful and I wanted to know more about this man.
As if on cue, he continued my train of thought." I've never seen a water tribe festival, it would help me get to know more about your culture, and we could talk." he ended a bit shyly, almost blushing.
"You could go as the blue spirit!" I said, "All you have to do is wear all black, and a blue mask, I've even got one in my room!" I clapped my hands happily, not quite believing that he was agreeing with this. His brows knit together, frowning slightly. I stilled, hoping I hadn't said or done something wrong.
"If you get to pick what I wear, then you're going as the Painted Lady!" he replied I groaned. I'd seen pictures of her in my mythology, books, and was worried that I wouldn't measure up. As it turned out, I needn't have worried.
The night was winding down, and we had done everything you could possibly do together at a water festival, from taking a shot at the bride and groom (we threw snowballs at them as they passed by wrapped in a fur blanket on a chair made entirely of ice, tinted gold.), to eating some of the flavored shaved ice. Zuko absolutely loved, it he tried every flavor he could, and told me stories of fire festivals, and all the foods they had the games they could play, and the shows they put on. I took him to the goldfish booth, was he failed to catch the goldfish, but got a few laughs from the onlookers, and the impromptu sled rides, which were exciting, especially when a water bender was on your sled. You could really do some fun stunts. We were walking away from a play, toward the ice boats, when he spoke seriously to me again. "This was great fun, but why are you doing this?" he asked, moving his hands about awkwardly, "being so nice I mean," he said lamely" I can understand wanting to spend time together but why show me all this? Why do you want to get to know me so closely?" he asked, putting his hands on my shoulders, staring straight into my eyes. I blinked and gulped, squirming under such an intense gaze. I looked around, at people who were watching us, whispering.
“I...I don’t want to talk hear people are staring at us, can we talk about it on the ice boat." he looked at me, and I withered a little under his scrutinizing gaze. He shrugged his shoulder eloquently.
"So, what's an ice boat?” he asked simple letting go of my shoulders, and walking by my side, toward one of the canals, that ran thru the city. Our hands brushed, against each other as we walked, but he made no move to hold my hand, so I didn't grab his. But I had wanted to.
"An ice boat, is like a canoe, no, more like a gondola, they're made specifically for festivals like this, they have a clear clean wedge that sinks underneath the water giving you a clear view of the fish, and what's going on under water." I said explaining it as we searched for an empty one. “they have one seat, for two sometimes three people to sit in, it's covered with whit fur so that you don't freeze your butt." I said and giggled a little, he grinned.
“usually, their powered by a water bender" I continued, finishing my explanation, "or by someone using a long paddle, that...”
"Oh, is that one?" Zuko asked pointing, toward, what was, indeed an empty gondola. He started to lower his arm, and then wrapped it around, my shoulders, unnecessarily guiding me toward the gondola. I flushed losing my train of thought, as he guided me into it, and we sat down. He hadn't left his arm around me, and I almost sighed in regret. I kind of wished he'd left it there. I shifted making myself comfortable, and so did he. Finally as we sat, leg-to-leg, side-by-side, I was blushing, looking anywhere but at his face, so that he wouldn't notice.
"So, since this one doesn't have a paddle, how do we make it go?" he asked, looking around for a paddle. My blush faded, and I grinned, wiggling my fingers in front of his face, prettily. He blinked and I got the distinct feeling that he was blushing, though it was hard to tell under his mask. "Oh, I um...I kind of forgot."  He said rubbing in the back of his head, apologetically. I smiled and thrust my hand in the frigid water, swirling my fingers in a complicated, intricate motion, the boat ground forward, then smoothly got caught in the current. I made sure that it was well, into the current and taking the corners safely before I pulled my hand out. My fingers were frigid, and slightly blue.
"That looks like it hurts." Zuko said looking at my frozen hand. I blinked at him, I wondering why he cared about my hands.
"Kind of." I said, "It’ll thaw out eventually though." he looked at it, and then looked at me, pulling off his black gloves.
"Here, give me your hand." he said reaching for mine. I hesitated then placed my hand in his, in a curiously romantic gesture. As he held my between his, I felt a slight warmth, at first I thought it was just his body tempature, but then I saw little heat waves coming off them. My hand was thawed, but as we stared into each others eyes, I couldn't pull myself away. Finally, he released my hand, though, he let it linger a little bit, finally, reluctantly, letting it go. I sat back and started to settle in.
"Can I remove my mask? He asked, "or do you think its still light enough for people to recognize me?" he asked softly I stopped and though about it.
"If you pull it over the scarred part of your face, you'll look just like everyone else, so no one will recognize you." I said unthinkingly.  The words had barely left my mouth when I realized what I had said. His voice, when he spoke next was dangerously low and very angry.
“If my scar bothers you that much, then I can simply have it covered every time we are forced to be together." he snapped at me.
"No, I’m sorry I didn't mean it like that!" I protested, waving my hand up trying to stave off his angry words.
"of course you, didn't, what else didn't you mean?" he growled at me, scooting as far away from me as he could, which, happily was only a few inches.
"I meant what I said!" I said just as peevishly, "I really wanted to talk to you and get to know you before we are married! I didn't mean to insult you! I don't understand why you're getting this angry, it was a mistake, and I'm sorry!" I pleaded with him
He just glared at me from behind his mask, his look was as cold an unforgiving as the ice we know sat on.
"Of course, you don't understand." he said, "someone like you could never understand." he said quietly, turning his masked face away from me, watching another snuggling couple floating by us.
"What do you mean people like me?" I hissed angrily, my voice was as low, and as full of malice as his had been. "You’re not the only one who's been hurt, Fire Benders killed my mother!" I said, my words came out choked, as I tried not to cry at the memories it brought up.
Zuko turned his face to me, his body language radiating alarm at the sound of my voice. He watched me, pity creeping into his eyes, I couldn't take it, and I buried my face in my hands, fighting to keep my tears at bay, not wanting to let him see my pain.
“A Fire Bender killed my mother too." he whispered almost inaudibly. I looked up at him, his head was now bowed, strands of hair, falling over his mask. "My grandfather was already sick and dying, he was a hard man to impress, and he hated my mother, he always called her too soft, and said that she was babying us all, turning us into future traitors.  When uncle Iroh told him he no longer wanted to be the next Fire-Lord, he snapped. He killed nobles and guards, we were all trying to get out of the way, but I fell over my robes, mother saw and turned around, throwing her body over mine. Uncle tried to fight him, but it was too late. By the time uncle defeated him, and bent the flames off her she was already...." Zuko choked, too, cutting himself off, and looking at the fur we sat in, his shoulders slumped, in sorrow.
I reached out to him unthinkingly, putting my hands on his arms, causing him to blink up at me, this time there were tears prickling at the corner of his eyes.
"It’s not your fault," I told him urgently. shaking him just a little, to get my point across. "When my mother died, they were searching for water-benders, capturing or killing us. Sokka, my mother and I were living at the South Pole then, in our own little igloos, helping them rebuild after what we thought was the last invasion. Sokka and I were snowball fighting, when black snow fell from the sky. All the adult men started running for weapons the women were screaming and running in panic." I hesitated before going onward, hoping I could get thru to him, and in a way thru to myself." Sokka ran to find our father, and I went to find our mother. By the time I got there... by the time I got there, there was already a man there, in a scary pointy black and red uniform, he was holding her by the hair, he was screaming at her. When I came in he stared at me, as if I was an animal, and my mother told him, she said *I'll tell you, just let my daughter go, please...* she begged him" I said my, voice, strangling itself, I was leaning on his arms for support now, not even caring that I shouldn't be this close to him." she looked at me as the man started laughing, she told me,* go find your father! He’ll help us, go Katara!! And remember mommy loves you.* she was crying as she left and so was I, I couldn’t even see thru my tears. Our neighbor’s husband, Bato, found me, when I told him what happened he took me by the hand and we ran back. But...." I started, hiccup, tears prickled at the corner of my eyes, I fought to keep them down, just barely succeeding. He looked at me, sadness in his eyes.
"She was already gone." he finished, in a whisper. I looked up at him, and found understanding in his eyes.
   He pulled one of his arms out of my grasp, and moved his mask, tilting it on the side of his face, hiding his scar. We still could be caught. Then he did something I didn’t expect, he put his arm gently on my shoulder, holding me against him gently stroking my back, comforting me.
"It wasn't your fault" he said softly, his golden eyes looking down at me kindly.
"It’s not your fault either." I told him, straightening a little so I could look him straight in the eye. His arm slid off my shoulders and I regretted moving again, but I had to get this thru to him. "When I first heard I was going to be engaged to someone from the same culture as the one that murdered my mom, I was angry. I hated it and threw fits, yelling and striking out at anyone who came into my rooms. Then one day Yue, came in, Grandpa Pakuu at her side, he sealed me up into an icicle cage, making me listen to Yue. He left the room, and Yue talked to me at length about duty, she proved it to me by telling me about her arranged marriage to some solider who wasn't interested in her, only her name, and prestige. Finally she got thru and I consented, figuring that I would do it for duty, but I wouldn't have to like it. I learned about your culture, and your history, and what I found made me soften a little, before this war, you were a very interesting nation, I think underneath everything you still are." I said glancing up at him; he was smiling, so I continued. “Yue and I always escorted, your sister, though I wouldn’t say we were friendly, she certainly doesn't hate us. She says we remind her of her own friends." I glanced up at Zuko, and he snorted.
"Mai, is a depressing bookworm, glum and boring, she likes it that way. Ty-Lee is high-strung, free-spirited, and empty headed. You don’t remind me of those two at all." he said flatly rolling his eyes. I smiled thinly, but continued with my original train of words.
“I was determined not to like you, and I projected all my anger toward the fire nation at you. But then... you showed up, and I realized, you couldn't have done anything like that, you were too...hurt yourself. I could see it in the way you held yourself, and then Yue and I were talking at the table Bato told her that the fire nation was giving us those soldiers, to show utter remorse for your grandfather’s actions. I knew then that...." I hesitated and completely pulled away from him feeling empty as I did so. "I knew it couldn't be have been you and that the anger I had tried to project on you was pointless, unfounded." I finished looking in his eyes, one hand left holding his, hoping that I had gotten thru to him, to show him that what I felt was honest, and I hoped that this moment could lead to more, to better ones.
He looked at me for a long while, not saying anything but not letting go of my hand. Finally, just as I had begun to worry, and squirm mentally, he spoke, but it was so quiet that I had to strain to hear it. "When I was told I was completely complaint. I did not fight or do anything to change what they had planned for Me." he said looking at me, like he was reprimanding me. I blushed, a little bit shamefully, but he continued, graciously ignoring it. "I was angry though, I used to rage and vent to my uncle that they were stealing my future sealing me up with a woman, that I had not only never met, but who had come from an entirely different culture than my own, someone who would probably dislike me at best, and hate me at worst. Some woman who wouldn't care and would be only scathingly dutiful at best. I hated it and resented it, but I knew I couldn't fight it. My father found out about my talks with my uncle, he just walked in one day, and dismissed my uncle. He told me to sit; when I refused he made me sit." Zuko paused, a flash of anger in his eyes, but he continued." my father and I will never get along well, but he told me about mother. He wasn't kind, I don't think he can be, but he told me, he had wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and complete this war, that he had even had a plan for it, but when my mother sacrificed herself for me, he changed. he knew then that she didn't want us to live in war for the rest of our lives, and that by fighting against it, or being sullen about it, then I was dishonoring my mothers life, and I was being ungrateful to not only her but my entire nation." he looked at me and I at him, the realization dawning on us that we were the only two who could understand what each other had gone thru. "but when I got here I realized, that you would probably like it less than I did, having to spend 9 months in a country not your own, every year, with people you didn’t know."
I blinked up at him a smile flickering across my face; I took off the hat of my costume and scooted closer to him, looking him in the eye, happily waiting for his next words. I saw his Adam’s apple bob, as he swallowed harshly, and struggled with his next words.
"Katara,” he said softly, "I’m sorry." he said, averting his eyes, I smiled and threw myself into his arms, almost rocking the Gondola. He caught, me but he was completely shocked, unused to such impulsive reactions.
"I’m sorry to Zuko, and I hope..." hesitating I thought of a way to word this, " I hope that in the future we can be more free with each other, and think about each other more. He looked down at me; the most winning smile crossed his face.
“I will try to think of you more, I’m only sorry that I didn't do so earlier," he said, wrapping his arms around me, putting one hand under my chin, lifting my face so that I could stare straight into his intensely burning eyes. Suddenly he pushed me away, and I sat straight up, in alarm. I was afraid, it had been an odd thing for him to do and I was worried but I couldn't fathom why. "Katara," he said gravely, capturing my eyes, and not letting them go, “I have something to ask."
*what?!* I thought what could he possibly want, my mind raced, from one thing to another, hoping he wouldn't ask me to do something...I didn't want to do. "Yes?" I said a little bit breathlessly, afraid, and yet anticipatory. He was still staring at me and I shivered, half in fear half, with some other emotion I couldn't quite place. He grabbed my hand quickly, "will you marry me, Princess Katara?" he said rushing over the words, and looking in my face anxiously. It was the second time in one day I gaped at him like a fish...
"What?" I said, flabbergasted, my shoulders relaxing a little.
"I said, will you..." he started to repeat.
"No, no! Not that!" I said exasperatedly. "I mean why? it's kind of, you, know a bit after the fact, isn't it?" I said looking at him barely keeping my eyes from rolling in laughter.
"I know," he said slowly," whether or not you say yes, we are still going to get married, but now it's me asking not my father, or my nation, or anyone but me....and you." he finished, the look in his eyes imploring me to understand, that this was really important to him. I almost sighed, but it would have been happily this time. I smiled up at him, feeling a slightly fluffy, and sloppily smile cover my face. The same type of smile started to cross his face, as he anticipated my answer.
"Yes, Zuko I will." I told him, and he grabbed me by my arm, pulling me into his arms. He stroked my hair, and smiled goofily, I couldn't laugh though. I probably looked like a dork too. We were so preoccupied with each other that we almost didn't notice the blue white Gondola floating toward us, or its occupants. I only looked up when I felt Zuko stiffen.
Sokka and Yue's gondola was decked in snow-roses, and streamers all kinds of fancy thing and they cuddled together much like Zuko and I, though Sokka's half shaved head was leaning against, Yue's  fur-covered chest, her arms wrapped around him cuddling her soon-to-be husband in a scandalously intimate way. he had unfortunately, raised his head up and spied us, his eyes narrowed, then he elbowed, Yue's leg, she turned her head, and looked down at him frowning, and saying something. He pointed his head in our direction, but tried to be covert. It was Sokka; he was about as subtle as a stampeding rhinophant. Yue was more subtle, as we came even with each other, she gave me an imperceptible nod of her head, in approval, and a smile played on her lips. Sokka glared a bit, and jerked his head up and down, before turning his head away, as if saying I don't see it, but the head-jerk was giving us his sullen approval.  Zuko didn't un-stiffen until they passed us.
"Will anyone else recognize us?" he whispered against my hair
"I don't think so," I said, " the only reason they recognized us is because they are always in close contact with us, if you bow your head a little bit when people go by , I don’t think anyone will notice us." he sighed happily, and snuggled me closer against him.
"I’ll take your word for it, then. My fire lily." he said romantically, but cheesily.
"Fire lily?" I asked him
"It’s this flower we have..." he started to say in explanation
"No, I mean why am I a fire lily?" I asked curiously looking up at him, and noticing that his handsome jaw line and face were framed by the night sky, the stars twinkling around him, like a halo. He looked into my eyes, his crinkling in a soft smile that I had never thought anyone could have while looking at me.
"A fire lily," he said, slowly as if explaining it to someone who was slow. “We use it in our tea, it strengthens fire-bending, but it also calms the nerves." he said, "strong and yet, soothing. It’s also very beautiful, and hard to care for. You have to be gentle with it, and can only be grown under certain circumstances." he watched my eyes, and I smiled up at him, feeling my own twinkle, in response to the twinkle in his.
"Look at the stars," I said pointing upward. He did.
"They are different than my own." he said, "will you teach me about them?" he asked, innocently. The boat bumped, startling us both, I shot out of his arms guiltily thinking, and we had been caught and were in danger. The boat had stopped, hitting a dead end.
"I think this is as far as we go. I said, standing up, blushing. “If we stay out any longer..." I said trailing off letting him realize the rest. He caught on quickly.
"You’re right, any longer and it may get......odd." he said, his own face flushing, he stood and got out. He turned, and offered me his hand out, in a very gentlemanly and appropriate way. I took it, grinning at him, as I stepped, out my costume robes swirling around my ankles, I stepped to close.
We were face to face now. And I started to get a little closer, leaning in, my heart slamming in my chest, my cheeks curiously bloodless. He leaned forward as well, staring into my eyes, as if hypnotized. There was a scuffing in the snow, and I heard footsteps approaching. We jumped apart guiltily, but didn't let go of each others hand.
"There they are!" a soft female voice whispered, I saw a silhouette pointing in my direction.
"I see them," a harsher, male voice said. It was Sokka and Yue. "Hurry up, woman!" Sokka said chidingly, joking Yue's slowness. She laughed.
"You try running in these slippers, on ice!" she retorted
"um, they look nicer on you,  I don’t think white slippers with pink pearls would look good on me." he said thoughtfully, "though I’ll try'em if you want." this time Yue did laugh, though she covered it quickly, they reached us, and I very reluctantly let go of Zuko's hand and walked toward my brother.
Yue stood next to him, holding something black in her arms.
"Hey Katara! She said, smiling, her face flushed with happiness. "here take these," she said shoving, a black, ninja-like outfit into my arms." thought you might need these." she said, as I watched my brother push a similar outfit into Zuko's arms, while Zuko just looked alarmed that Sokka was shoving clothes into his arms,  instead of threaten to do something to him for being alone with his sister.
"They’re not for you, 'cause I wouldn't give you a cute ninja outfit to run around in I swear." Sokka said waving his hands in front of him, in a warding gesture. Zuko sighed at my brother’s attempt at humor.
Yue rolled her eyes, and explained it to me.” they locked your rooms, thinking you were both inside, so now you're gonna have to sneak in, and in those outfits..." she let it trail off.
"In those outfits, someone is going to notice you floating back to your rooms." Sokka said handing Zuko the last piece of cloth. Here Yue steered me away into an empty shack and helped me change into a pair of black baggy pants and tight black long sleeved shirt and face covering. As I walked out tugging the bottom in place, I heard Sokka reaming Zuko out. "And if you hurt my sister, or get her in any trouble..."
Yue and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes simultaneously. "ahtem." we cleared our throats and Sokka jumped guiltily, Zuko clutched his blue spirit mask to his chest, watching Sokka in amusement and understanding. "One question, "I said interjecting, "how are we gonna get to our rooms?" I saw Zuko
Smile this time.
"Uh, hello little sister?" Sokka said waving his hand in front of my face." you're a water bender! Do your magical bendy-thingy with the icewalls, and take this nice little jerk bender back to his room." he said rolling his eyes, and poking at me. Yue bumped him out of the way with her hip, making him stumble a bit.
At least it shut him up; she took both my hands in hers, and winked at me.
"To your own, separate rooms." she said grinning broadly
"Why?" Zuko said slyly, ducking in and butting in between us,” are you going to your own separate room, alone all by yourself?" he said grinning at her blush.
"Of Course..."she stammered. Sokka butted in this time pushing, Zuko away from me.
"Of course we will, after ahwile. I mean we will get there." he said, not even blushing, Yue thumped on the head but didn't deny it. We laughed the walked away from each other, I holding Zuko's hand and Yue's holding my brothers.  We walked quietly whispering and giggling at each other, when we finally threaded our way slowly thru the ice garden I spied his room.
"Okay, so how are we going to do this?”Zuko said, rubbing the back of his head, looking at me curiously. I smiled and stepped forward, time to show off I thought to myself, and preened a little. Zuko watched me, in anticipation. I definitely wouldn’t disappoint.
I pin wheeled my arms moving them in wide circles, raising a lump of snow out of the ground, melding it with the wall of the building right underneath his room, then I swirled them making my hand go flat, the snow flattened, I made a smoothing motion, and moved my arms wide then, brought it back in slowly, to my body. Finally I had a large square melted in with the snow that the walls were already made out of. Zuko looked at me puzzled.
"Step on." I said, to him, puffing a breath of smoke out, in exertion. Zuko stepped on, looking at the whole thing dubiously. I stepped on next to him, we were a little cramped, but he put his arm around my waist and held, and I didn't feel so awkward anymore.  I moved my arm in a circular motion, while holding on to Zuko with the other, so I won't fall I told myself. We traveled upwards in silence, simply enjoying each others company. We finally reached his room, and I braced my feet bringing my arms up and then down tearing a hole in his snow wall. He let go of me slowly, his hand trailing across my stomach. He stepped into his room and turned around, looking behind me at the crescent moon, which was already high in the sky.
"Well, I guess....I’ll uh see you tomorrow...." he said lamely. I stepped forward, and the next thing I knew I was in his arms, tightly clinging to him, I didn't want to let go, he looked down at me his golden eyes almost seemed to glow.  I looked up at him, one of my loops hair strayed across my face. Zuko tenderly brushed it away, pushing it up and leaving his palm on my fore head. The world seemed to pause for a single moment.
We were kissing. I don't know if I moved forward first or if he did and it didn't matter. His lips tasted like hot cinnamon, burning but sweet, the kiss started out soft, but was soon fierce, and desperate, as if we were trying to shove all our feelings into each other with this single kiss. It seemed like forever, but we finally tore apart from each other. Sorrow, in our eyes, it hadn't been long enough for me, and by the way he looked, he wanted to stay with me. He still held me and me him, but I knew I had to go. A single tear trickled out of my eye.
"I love you, Zuko." I whispered against his chest, trying not to cry. He sighed, and moved his hand, kissing my forehead "I love you, my fire lily, my Katara." he said. I let go of him as he let go of me.” I’ll see you tomorrow." he said
I don't remember how I got back to my room, but I know I did. I had never felt lonelier.
*FLASHBACK END*
We had been married a year and some change later, the ceremony, held in the earth kingdom capital, was pompous and regal, everything a royal wedding should be. My dress was done up in a pattern of blue and gold leaves, a very heavy traditional kimono. Zuko was in his longest black and red robes, in a fiery design.
The only thing that caused any whispering was my engagement choker, it was handmade. A blue silk ribbon with wave designs, and a blood-red circular pendant, with the fire nation symbol etched into. Zuko had made it with his own hands, and wouldn't allow anyone to offer me anything else to wear. I was so proud. The ceremony itself drug on, I remembered uttering the right words, and going thru all the right motions, everything went buy without a hitch. It was happy, and pleasant. My heart thumped when I realized it was finally over, that we were now, unbreakably, undeniably, husband and wife. My heart swelled, and I thought it would burst.  I sighed stretching out, in my silk covered wooden chair; I was getting uncomfortable waiting for my visitor to show up. I adjusted the long wine colored robe over my stomach were it bunched up, and stared at the walls in our suite. They were and odd, but pleasing mixture of reds and blues different parts of our heritage peeking thru, in the vase beside me was a bunch of fire lilies that thanks to my water bending stayed alive far longer than most cut stems would.
I sighed remembering other things. The wedding night, I thought and licked my lips coyly, was .......memorable and, pleasurable. It had been almost three years, when the second happiest moment of my life came.
I was pregnant. Zuko and I had been so excited, but then tragedy struck. Ozai was killed his entire train massacred on his way back from speaking with the northern air temple monks. There was no doubt about who had done it. The Avatar or his deranged followers. Zuko was promptly crowned Fire lord, and I stood by his’ side. I helped him grieve, and strangely, his sister Azula came to me as well. She wasn't friendly, I doubted she ever would be, but she needed help, and I was there. After things had calmed down, and I was in the last stages of pregnancy, my belly bulging, and my feet, know constantly bare, were swollen beyond all reorganizations, we took a vacation, to Ba-Sing Se. I had been laying back, in bath house, Azula helping me out, and gently pouring warm water of my distended belly, murmuring to the baby within. She may not get along with anyone, but she tolerated me, and I knew she would love my child, though she pretended otherwise, when asked.
Zuko came bursting thru the door, a letter in his hand, and a hawk on his wrist. "The Avatar is at the north pole." he said dramatically. I struggled to sit, up worry and fear sending adrenaline coursing thru my veins.
"Lie back, and calm down! Now!" Azula snapped at me waspishly "no need to stress, and have the child early." she said harshly, though I knew what she meant. She wheeled on Zuko, "out!" she screamed, I was just glad that we had both been wearing our bathing suits.
Azula came to me then her long hair pulled back in a ponytail, she helped me up, and toweled of my stomach “you need to be careful, it’s MY niece or nephew...” she started to say.
"Or both..." I mumbled.
"Hmm?" she said threateningly.
"Nothing." I said quickly.
"Anyways, MY flesh and blood, you will take care, or else." she said a menacingly. I sighed.
"Yes, mam!" I said. After we were all dressed I went to consult my husband, alone this time. I cracked open the door, and quietly stepped in, he was hunched over his desk, writing furiously. He didn't look up, but he knew I was there.
"I’m writing to General Zhao, he's around here, we are commandeering his ships and soldiers, heading straight for the north pole at top speed." he said scribbling faster, I walked by him and leaned over kissing his cheek.
"Don’t forget to alert Grandpa and Gran-Gran that you are on your way with armed soldiers, if you do it halfway there they may interpret it as an act of war, regardless of the fact that they know you wouldn't do that." I told him
"Uh, huh," he replied scrawling faster, then finishing with a flourish, he rolled it up and attached it to the leg of a hawk. "Zhao." he said at the hawk, and then stood took it to the window, and held out his arm flinging it up. It flew out and away from us, and we were quiet watching it wing into the distance. Finally, I broke the tension filled silence.
"Zuko," I said nervously leaning against him.
"I know." he said.” I’m scared too." he turned holding me still in his arms, my stomach kicked in protest, moving and then settling, I winced a little but stared at him. "Katara you have to promise me you won't come." he said begging me. "Please it's too dangerous, and I want to know that you're safe, no matter what." he held my head against his shoulder, his other arm wresting on top of mine on my belly.” please, I have to know that no matter what happens in the world you are safe." he whispered to me.
I sighed. "Zuko, I want to go. I want to stand by your side, your life will be in danger, even if you send, warning, without me by your side, you'll be escorted around the city by armed warriors in full battle gear, for your protection, and against you." I whispered fearfully, “your life is in danger, it's the hardest thing in your life, and I won’t be able to be with you to help you." I said tears falling silently down my cheeks. I looked up as I felt something against my cheek. There were quiet tears streaming down his face.
"Please, my fire-lily." he said. I couldn't say no. though my husband, the father of my children, the king of a nation, was in danger, and I couldn't stand by his side.
"I won't Zuko." I whispered as he kissed me, our tears mingling, and we held each other for a long while before I had to get off my feet.” for you." I whispered, as he left to prepare.
It was now only a few weeks later and the news that had reached Azula and I made my stomach churn in a way that had nothing to do with the baby. One of Zhao’s, new soldier, a lowly private had left the ship when Zuko picked the soldiers that would go with them. He had trained with Azula and had come straight to her, thought it was probably out of fear more that loyalty. In Zuko's absence she ruled with an iron-fist, fair. But very hard. Zhao was planning on taking over the North Pole, somehow he had found out about, our most sacred place. The pond with Twi and la in it the psychical representation for the moon spirit in our world. Zhao planned on destroying it, killing Zuko and taking over completely.
There was a knock at my door. I rose heavily, I was in the very last stages of pregnancy, the baby would come at any moment, and it was hard just to move sometimes. I did not go to the obvious door in my room, but rather a large poster of Sozin's comet, (which had passed by without incident two summers ago) backlit by an inky starry sky
The full moon in the top corner. I reached over stretching, and touched the third star up from the left, two times.  The entire panel slide to the side revealing a long hallway, and Azula in dark almost black red robes, kneeling a dagger in one hand. she looked up at me her eyes filled with a dark knowledge that sent chills down my spine to my very toes.
"Are you ready to go?" she hissed.
"yes." I said glibly. "no one will notice we are gone for awhile?"
"this passage is known only to us royals, who live in this room, and escape in case of a revolt. only Zuko and I know, and now you," she whispered. She stood giving me a hand and helping me in the hallway, in the same way her brother had once helped me out of a gondola, not so very long ago. We stalked out creeping quietly and grabbing supplies that were at the inside of the door, out of the long passageway. Azula peeked her head out, looking around, then motioning me forward. I stepped out shading my eyes, against the sunset. Fire nation sunsets were spectacular, but now was no time to stand and gape. I shoulder my own, small pack. Azula carried a heavier one, refusing to allow me to pull my own weight. I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the sunlight, I saw our steed.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I hissed at Azula, who looked at me in shock. I’d never used such language in front of anyone.
"Do I ever kid anyone?" she asked cockily taking my pack out of my hands, and tossing her long hair over her shoulder.
"But a dragon?" I snapped keeping my voice down, "I’m a pregnant woman!!! I can't ride a dragon!!!!" she sighed and looked at me.
"You’re going to have to; the dragon has stooped low enough to allow us to ride it. And there is no other way we will be able to get there in time." I groaned, the baby was kicking hard as if sensing my distress.
"Really?" I moaned climbing into a haphazard saddle on its blue scaled back." she jumped in front of, after securing our packs. "Besides, for a sun warrior would you expect anything else?"
"No." I replied holding on to the sides of the saddle, as the creature hurled itself into the air.
"Didn’t think so" she shot back. I didn't speak for awhile. I was too busy burping up the contents, of what felt like everything I’d ever eaten.
after awhile, Azula spoke again, in her normal grave and gravely voice.” you know what you are doing." she stated. I closed my eyes trying not to see the earth rush past us at impossible speeds.
"I never said I’d stay and wait forever." I told her sadly. She twisted around to look at me, an unreadable emotion crossed her face, if I hadn't known her well, and I’d have said it was pity.
"Its treason." she said flatly "you may never be together", she said, drawing breath, "treason is death or banishment." she said flatly watching me. I opened my eyes, staring determinedly past her toward our destination.
"Zhao is committing treason, no one but us can bring justice." Azula's lip curled upward, smiling at the irony of her, being an angel of justice. "No one but we know, if we are caught, death." I said quietly" if we succeed we...”
"Save the world." Azula said solemnly " not my usual thing, but there it is." she said.
We didn't speak again, but scarily we understood each other. I almost whished I could tell her my secret, but I bit my lip. And held my silence. I didn't want to save the world. I was far too selfish for that.
Once again I found myself, wishing I could save Zuko.