A few days turned into two weeks, not that Zuko was complaining. It would have been shorter if Katara wasn't such a busybody, always finding more people who needed help. They were sitting out in the garden by the turtleduck pond, Katara laying on her stomach and reading an adventure scroll while he went over some of the newest school curriculums, hoping to weed out the last of the indoctrination, and more than occasionally sneaking peeks at his companion.

The sun was setting on her last day in the Fire Nation, and Zuko found that he didn't mind. He felt much lighter than he'd felt in so long, and there was always the promise that she'd be back, and that they didn't have to pretend that nothing had passed between them. They didn't have to pretend that they weren't more than friends. In front of others, maybe, but he could handle that so long as they didn't have to lie to themselves.

"Are you going to finish your work, or are you just going to stare at me?"

Katara smiled and bits of him melted, because there had been a real possibility that she could have been removed from his life. Her presence had changed him once, and he knew that her absence would change him again. If she'd stuck by what she said, had broken off an entire part of their relationship…

"You were going to say we were lovers, right?"

She smiled, blushing as she turned back to her book, playing with one of the pages. Zuko took a deep breath and leaned back against the tree. There was no way he'd be able to remain part of their group if it would mean seeing Katara with someone else and knowing that he'd never get to love her. There was no way he'd be able to subject himself to such punishment. She peeked back at him, her eyes half closed, and nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Do you think it's ok to name it?" he whispered. "I mean, we weren't naming it before."

Katara shrugged, looking at him over her shoulder. "But it's ours, right?"

Zuko couldn't help smiling like an idiot, and he buried his face in his reports, hoping to hide from her, and knowing that he never could. She was watching him just as intently as he'd been watching her earlier.

Dinner was a quiet affair with just Zuko, Katara, and of course, Iroh, who seemed disproportionately happy. The doors opened, and the servants entered, laying out a modest spread which, much to Katara's frustration, included more work for Zuko. He could see the wheels turning in her head the longer he looked through papers and made notes. Halfway through dinner, she was fully frowning at him, her eyes narrowed in that way that said he was in for full on Katara Rage. Iroh saw no reason to intervene on his nephew's behalf.

"Two weeks," she said, her hands going to her hips. "Two weeks I've been here, and you haven't had one meal where you weren't working."

Zuko blinked at her over the edge of his teacup.

"Have you seen my office—"

"This is why you're so stressed—"

"Yes, because it couldn't possibly half the world hates the Fire Nation—"

"I'm your healer, Zuko, and you have to listen to me—"

"No, I don't. I'm wearing the crown. This is my nation. You are my guest."

"Oh, screw your crown."

Iroh calmly sipped his tea, then poured himself another cup as if Katara wasn't about to take the argument to the next level. Zuko had seen her do it with Sokka a thousand times, and he'd seen her attempt this with Toph too many times to count. Back at the Western Air Temple, he would have caved to her without any argument. He probably would have caved to her when they were hiding out on Ember Island, too. But now? Iroh chuckled as Katara's eyes became slits, and her mouth became a thin line of anger, and a little voice in the back of his mind came out of nowhere and asked if he wouldn't like to kiss away that anger. Zuko cleared his throat and took a long sip of his tea because, yes, he would like to kiss away that anger.

"I'm the Fire Lord," he said, focusing on his papers. "I make the rules. When you're Fire Lord, you can make whatever rules you want."

"Oh, believe me, I will. I…"

Her eyes got wide as she realized what she'd said, and Zuko wanted nothing more than to punch himself for blushing the way he was, because his whole face was like a furnace. Katara tried to shrink back, covering her face with her hands. They both snuck a peek at Iroh, who just grinned as he looked from one reddened face to the other.

"I can leave if there is something the two of you must discuss," he offered.

"There's nothing to discuss," they both shouted, perhaps a little too loudly.

"We're just friends," Zuko grumbled.

"I didn't mean it like that," Katara said, resting her chin on her cheek as she looked out of the window.

There would be no end to the amount of harassment he would suffer, now.

Zuko paced anxiously around his room, rubbing his stomach. He felt nervous and giddy and his heart was beating twice as fast as it normally would. It had been this way every night for the past two weeks, and the thrill still hadn't worn off. He wasn't complaining, really. He loved it. He would miss it.

There was a tiny knock on the false panel, and Zuko tried his hardest not to run to it as it slid to the side, and Katara poked her head out. She had the biggest, most beautiful smile, and she giggled as she slid the panel back in place.

"Did you know the secret passages have secret passages?"

Zuko laughed, feeling a happiness that made the day's frustrations and anger slip away. When she opened her arms, he went to her, hugging her close and kissing the top of her head.

"It would be impossible to keep the secret passages a secret, so they're as confusing as possible."

"Sokka would love it in there."

They stood in silence in the middle of his room, and it was beautiful, but Zuko could feel a bit of sadness starting to creep in. This was the only way they'd be able to steal some time together and be unguarded, and Zuko had told Katara about the secret passages, how they could sneak around without being watched. He'd walked her back and forth from her room to his, making sure she memorized the route and didn't get lost. That had been the easy part.

"Just don't tell him, ok?" Zuko whispered. "He will get lost."

The hard part turned out to be pretending that they were only friends during the day. Pretending that she didn't come to him, or he didn't go to her every night. Pretending that he didn't know the way her lips felt against his, or the way she sounded when she moaned his name. It was hard to pretend that she couldn't stop his heart with a smirk or make him lose all coherent thought when her hands were on him.

"Zuko?"

"Hmm?"

She pulled away from him slightly, and when she looked at him, her eyes were shining, and the firelight made her skin glow with a beautiful golden hue. He loved the way she looked in the middle of the night, her hair messy, her robe loose and sometimes hanging off one shoulder. He tucked her hair behind her ear, and she closed her eyes, leaning into his touch.

"Will it always hurt this much?" she whispered.

"I don't—"

"Lie to me."

Instead, he kissed her, because he didn't want to tell her that everything would work out for the better, because he refused to acknowledge what their future could be. She responded to him almost immediately, standing on the tips of her toes, her hand resting on his bare shoulder. She shivered when he moved his hand from the back of her neck to trail lightly down her spine, and her breath hitched, even as she deepened the kiss, grabbing onto him almost desperately. Zuko tried hard to focus on the feel of her in his arms, pressed against him, the smell of her, everything that was her in that moment. He tried to fix this image in his memory and blot out thoughts of her leaving the next day. He kissed along her jaw, tossing her hair over her shoulder so he could kiss her neck, as she grabbed a fistful of his hair.

"Spirits above…"

He tried to let the sound of her voice, soft and slightly hoarse, blot out the blooming pain in his heart. The other nights hadn't been like this; they'd manage to keep the weight of her departure from settling over them. He just wished he could do it on this last night.

"Why are you stopping?" she asked as he pulled away.

Zuko didn't hold back a slight smile, pointing to his bandaged middle.

"No strenuous activity. Doctor's orders."

"When have you ever listened to me?" she asked, blushing.

She gave him a quick peck on the lips as she began undoing the bandages. The bruise had faded considerably thanks to her healing, and it only gave him a little twinge of pain from time to time. Still, he did his best to take it easy like she said. Katara waved him over to the bed as she went to get a bowl and some water for healing, and when she came back, she straddled him, hands resting on his chest.

"So," she said.

"So," he said.

Her robe had slipped off her shoulder again, and Zuko looked away before realizing there was no point. When he looked at her again, Katara was smiling, her arms crossed and her robe falling open to the waist.

"Suddenly, you're so shy," she said, finally beginning to heal him.

He shrugged and put his hands on her waist, watching her face change as she concentrated, the water beginning to glow. He could feel it seeping deep inside of him, seeking out damage and tension, and soothing cool spread through his body. Zuko relaxed against the pillows with a contented sigh, and Katara's eyes flicked up to him, a smile spreading across her face.

He loved her.

He loved her.

He watched her work, and there was no way he could deny it to himself. He'd said it once, before shoving her into Aang so he could protect her during the comet. He'd said it then because he didn't think he'd survive, and there'd been something blossoming inside his heart for sure, but also because he didn't want to leave her without her knowing the depth of his feelings. But now, alone in his room, in the middle of the night, just watching her and seeing her smile, he knew.

"Katara, I…"

But it would almost be cruel to say something, wouldn't it? She was holding her breath, though, he could tell by the way she'd gone completely still, and not even her water was shifting inside of him. Zuko took a deep breath, tried to get his mouth to form the words, to force them out. Nothing came out, not even any half formed words. Sighing, he ran his hands over his face, and Katara finished her healing, sending the water back to the bowl. Zuko looked away.

"I know," she said.

Zuko pushed himself up so he could look in her eyes, because even if he couldn't make his mouth form those words, he wanted her to know. She smiled at him, almost coy, her eyes half closed and her hair hanging around her shoulders.

"I can never thank you enough for everything you've done for me."

She shrugged. "It's nothing less than you would have done for me. Than what you have done for me."

He kissed her, and she held his face in her hands, caressing his scar. Her touch made his heart flutter, and when she leaned forward, the ends of her hair brushing his chest it was like every part of him was on fire. He could have stayed there, underneath her with her hands roaming over his body, for the rest of eternity.

Katara didn't mind that Zuko wasn't able to see her off the next afternoon. He'd apologized to her a thousand times since breakfast, and Iroh even left them alone for lunch. They ended up talking business—reconstruction and redistribution of wealth, trade and changing attitudes. But it was nice, and when she said goodbye to him outside one of his meeting rooms, Katara couldn't help smiling. It was this image of him that she would keep in her mind for a very long time. He stood there, so very different from every Fire Lord before him, his clothes cut closer to the body for greater freedom of movement. The Fire Lord's mantle was nestled on his shoulders, sometimes almost looking too big for him, but he wore it proudly, never stooping under its weight. His crown gleamed in the early afternoon sunlight, like a beacon of hope that things would be changing for the better.

"Master Katara?"

Minister Hau's voice pulled Katara toward the present. The docks were busy with thousands of people and ships coming and going. Birds cawed overhead, and Katara took a deep breath, inhaling the salty air. Zuko might not have been there to see her off, but Minister Hau, Mistress Yina, Cultural Ministers Ukani and Lide and Iroh were all gathered there, along with a small retinue of soldiers, including General Jee.

"Really, you all didn't need to come to see me off," she said.

"You have our unending thanks, Master Katara," Hau said, bowing low to her. "No matter what anyone may say, you have done this nation a great service."

Katara blushed and tried to wave away the sentiment. "I was just helping an old friend."

"We can't overlook the work you've done with the hospitals while you were here," Minister Lide said, shielding her eyes against the sun. "You truly are a master healer, and those who work with you have nothing but positive things to say. All of you have done this world a great service."

"You will always have our thanks, our respect, and our admiration," Hau said, handing her a package. "And his majesty's thanks as well. He, again, sends his regrets that he couldn't be here this afternoon, and wishes you safe travels."

Katara accepted the package with trembling hands, almost afraid to open it, wondering just what Zuko could have gotten her so quickly. And when he even had the time. She could have kicked herself for blushing again while looking at the package, because Iroh was watching her more intently than anyone else. If anyone posed a threat to her and Zuko's secret, it would be Iroh, and he'd probably start snooping the moment she was gone. Still, she went to him when he held his arms open, and she hugged him tightly, loving the faint scent of tea that hung around him. When she tried to pull away, he didn't let go.

"If there are buds in the garden," he whispered, "I would not mind helping to tend to them. I do enjoy gardening. Seeing the flowers bloom is…so rewarding."

Iroh held her at arm's length, scrutinizing her as she clutched Zuko's gift to her chest.

"No," she said as firmly as she could. "No gardening."

"Ah, well, then." Iroh sounded more than a little disappointed. "My nephew is very lucky to have such a good friend."

"I know you never needed my help with the Jasmine Dragon, Iroh," Katara said, narrowing her eyes at him. "It's ok, though. I didn't mind. We needed a gentle push.

Iroh laughed long and loudly, shoving his hands deep into his sleeves and not bothering to deny his secret motives. Behind them, the captain of the ship gave the final boarding call, and Minister Hau stepped forward.

"Lastly, his majesty requests that I ask you to have Lord Sokka send more…seal jerky. I am, however, inclined to believe that he doesn't exactly need it."

"I'll have Sokka send a little. I suspect that if it doesn't arrive on schedule, he'll write to Sokka directly."

"Safe travels, Master Katara"

Hau moved back with the others, and they all bowed to her, and Katara returned the gesture, feeling unendingly proud. Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes. It felt damn good to be recognized, especially after everything she'd done with the North. She boarded the ship that would take her on the first leg of her journey home, and stayed on deck, watching the Fire Nation recede.

Far out onto the open waters, Katara took a deep breath, finally ready to open the gift Zuko had given her. Standing at the edge of the deserted deck, she took the top off the box, and a tiny slip of paper in Zuko's beautiful handwriting was on top.

This is ours, right?

Her breath caught as she saw the jewelry underneath. It was a slim cuff bracelet covered in tiny sapphires and diamonds. It glittered in the sun, and Katara slipped it out of the box and onto her wrist, thinking it was far too extravagant for her. But it was fine to have nice things from time to time, right? And it was a gift from her best friend. It's not like she couldn't not wear it. She deserved it.

With a final glance in the direction of the Fire Nation, Katara headed below deck feeling far more content and at peace than she'd felt in a very long time. Inside her room, she laid down on the bed, holding her wrist to her heart. They deserved these little selfish interludes, all of them did. Zuko was right—they'd given themselves to the world, and would probably never have total control over their lives.

But this? Katara twisted her new bracelet around her arm.

This was theirs.

A/N: And thus, we come to the end of this lovely story. I'm much happier with this ending than the previous one, and hopefully it hits you guys right in the feels. There's much fluff, and the beginning of Zuko's extravagant gift-giving. Not really much else to say about this chapter other than it was a bitch to finally get down the last bits of it. I like to think that, wherever they go, the Gaang finds people who supremely respects them for ending the war and the sacrifices they've made. This group may also pity them because they understand that they're just kids, and they're in for a hard life. And, of course, Iroh's meddling. He means well, but he probably won't take no for an answer. Until next time!