::~ Hi guys! Miss me? Ya know what my biggest fear on FF is? It's not getting flames, like most people. I'm afraid that my chapters won't be written as well as I want them to be written and that they won't be liked. This is the last chapter for TWIS, so I'm nervous.

::~

Zuko would do anything for his mother. Katara knew this. She also knew how important it was for him to find her. He wasn't a child anymore, and his mother was the only person that understood him from the start. He needed her with him.

Katara vowed that she would stay by his side, no matter what they had to do in order to find his mother. Zuko had stood by her as she hunted down Yon Rha. He stood beside her when she was bloodbending, to angry to realize that what she was doing at that time could have horrified him.

She would stand beside him as they searched until the ends of the earth for his mother. It was only fair Katara thought, as they ran down the streets, searching. She knew this now, because of his actions. No wonder he wanted to come alone- his actions were so concentrated on his task, he seemed to forget the world around him.

He really does love her.

She hoped that some day, she could have a bit of his love. A part of that potent love that burned inside him.

But that was wishful thinking.

She was pulled along the streets, now searching the inns. Bumi was gracious enough to give them a list of all the people who had come from the Fire Nation within the last twenty years. The number of people was great, but they didn't lose hope.

The would find her no matter what.

" Maybe we can draw her out." Katara said, stopping and pulling on Zuko's arm. Zuko turned towards her, an annoyed look on his face as he turned to her and gave her his attention.

" What do you mean draw her out?" Zuko asked. Katara gulped.

" I don't know. I guess I'm having another one of those Sokka plans. But maybe, we can do something that would cause her to come to us." Katara explained, drawing a map in the air. Zuko stepped beside her to see the imaginary image she was creating.

" What's your mother's favorite thing?" Katara asked, turning her head towards Zuko and realizing his face was mere inches away from hers.

" How would I know? I haven't seen her in over a decade. She did spend a lot of time with me by the turtle duck pond-" Zuko said. He noticed Katara's blush and smirked.

" That's it! " Katara said, pulling him into the nearest clothing shop as she ignored his reaction.

::~

" Come one, come all! To The Painted Lady's sculpting shop! The specialty of today, is turtle ducks!" Called Zuko in his hooded outfit. Soon enough, a crowd started to gather as they watched in awe what Katara was doing. She sat on a small stool, in front of some wooden crates. A large basin of water was beside her, which she used to draw out water to bend, and amuse the crowd.

She was making ice sculptures by waterbending water into forms, such as the Earth Kingdom Symbol and a turtle duck, and them freezing them. Zuko kept a close watch on everyone from underneath his dark green hood, which he used to hide his scar in order to stay incognito and not break his promise to Bumi about not using his influence on others. He was trying to spot his mother. He didn't seem to find her among the throngs of people trying to take a look at Katara.

" This isn't going to work." Zuko said, leaning close to her and whispering in her ear. Katara shook her head as she created another display. Her arms were raised high, as she created a delicate butterfly and froze it, handing it to the small little girl who had requested it.

" Give it time." She said, as she began to draw out another stream of water.

" I've given it ten years!" Zuko snapped. Katara gave him a sidelong glance as she kept the water poised in the air. Zuko hung his head and apologized. From the corner of his eye, he noticed movement near her. A man was walking suspisciously towards Katara.

*Blast!*

Someone with a dagger was nearing Katara. Zuko blasted a jet of fire at the person's feet, scaring him off. The crowd panicked, and fled. People screamed and ran for cover.

All but one person.

Katara seemed frozen to her spot, staring at that someone. She, she assumed it was a she, wore a dark olive hooded cloak. Katara walked towards her, a questioning look on her face.

People were running into stores, and houses, doing anything to get away from Zuko. He stared at them, guilt in his eyes. He didn't really mean to frighten everyone. He simply needed to protect Katara. He'd be damned if he let anything happen to her. No one would lay a finger on Katara. Still, he felt pretty guilty.

" I'm sorry!" Zuko called out. He groaned, angrily putting his hands on his head.

Why am I so bad at being good? He thought. He noticed Katara wasn't near him. Was she caught up in the crowd?

Panic seized him as he thought about what might be happening to her. Then, he noticed she was but a mere few meters away, speaking with a woman.

" Katara!" He called out, running towards her with an arm outstretched. Katara turned towards him, her Painted Lady robes flowing behind her.

" I need you to meet someone." She said.

::~

" So you know her, do you Kaeda?" Katara asked over a cup of tea. They were sitting at a small wooden table, in a small cottage, in the farms of Omashu. Kaeda, the woman they found once the crowd ran off, had taken them to her home, saying that she once knew Ursa.

Zuko sat at the one of the small chairs, taking up a lot of space in the cottage. ( It was rather small.) His large, overpowering presence seemed gigantic compared to Katara's slender form. Kaeda noticed this, as she poured them another cup of tea.

" I did. This lady you speak of, she once stayed here. She had lately come from the Fire Nation. She said she had children, two, to be exact. A son, and a daughter. She described them in bright detail." Said Kaeda.

Zuko sat forward. " Do you know where she is now, Kaeda?" Zuko asked, anxiousness gripping his heart.

" Last I heard, she was on a small farm, tending-"

Zuko was already out of the door.

" Continue, Kaeda. Soon enough he'll turn around and notice I'm not behind him." Said Katara, as she took another sip of her tea.

::~

"I heard from the villagers that she lived in a small cottage. She is one of the rare people that have come from the Fire Nation. She probably stood out." Zuko said, as they walked on the small path that would hopefully lead them to his mother. Katara could tell he was giddy.

It was almost as if he were a small child again.

She was truly happy that he was happy.

Zuko dissapeared for a few moments within the trees. She heard a few tinkering noises as she called out to him. He re-appeared after few moments, stuffing something into his pockets.

" It's done." He said, smiling smugly to himself. Katara looked utterly confused as he walked to her.

" What?" She asked. Zuko shook his head and told her to never mind. They continued walking for a while longer.

In the distance, they spotted the small cottage near a fair sized farm. It was partially covered by several green trees and flowers that surrounded it. Zuko ran towards to cottage, unable to contain himself.

" Zuko!" Katara yelled, holding a hand towards him, but he was already gone. Katara sighed and ran after him.

::~

" MOTHER!" Zuko said, as he burst through the door. He scanned the room, and didn't find her. It was a small cottage, with simple furniture. Feminine laces adorned the small pieces of furniture. A woman defintely lived here.

" Mother?" Zuko called out, and he was responded with his echo.

::~

" Zuko?" He heard a woman call to him. Zuko turned around from his spot in the doorway.

He turned around and met a woman clad in green robes. Her black hair fell in waves down her back.

She had golden-green eyes.

" Mother?" Zuko said, taking a step towards her. The woman smiled.

Ursa smiled.

It was her! She was alive! Zuko ran towards her, tears of joy brimming on his eyes.

Zuko pulled her in a tight embrace. Ursa had to tippy toe in order to reach his cheek and give him a kiss. " My son, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything." Ursa said, her eyes pooling in tears. Zuko's eyes looked the same.

" Come inside. We have much to talk about." Ursa said, leading him in with a bright smile. Zuko followed.

::~

Zuko was smiling. He was beaming. Once in a while, he would giggle like a small child. Ursa stared at her son, too flabbergasted to do more. Her son had changed. In ways she couldn't have imagined. The first thing she noticed was his scar. Knowing the little she did about her son, she knew he wouldn't want to talk about it immediately. She would wait until he stopped giggling and calmed down, before she asked. She started with a gentle subject.

" You have changed." She said, observing him over her cup of tea. They sat on the small mahogany table she had in the middle of the living room. She noticed that Zuko's demeanor changed. His expression became guarded.

" You're right. I'm not the child you left so many years ago. You must be surprised." Zuko said, not meeting her eyes. Ursa tilted her head a few degrees.

" Yes, you are not the young boy I left so many years ago." Ursa said. Zuko's expression seemed saddened.

" That doesn't mean I love you any less." Ursa said, smiling. Zuko looked up at her, a hopeful expression on his face.

" But, I'm scarred. I'm not good enough." Zuko said, touching the scar that had brought him so much pain.

" Zuko. " Katara said, as she stood at the doorway. Zuko stood, and smiled once he set eyes on her.

" I'm sorry for leaving you on the path." Zuko said, his voice becoming softer. Katara smiled, eyes gleaming and staring deeply into his.

" It's no big deal." Katara said, a smiled evident in her voice. Zuko's look didn't falter as he watched Katara and was unable to resist returning her raised an eyebrow.

" Oh! I'm so sorry, you must be Ursa." Katara said, entering and embracing the older woman. Ursa smiled.

" Yes, I am. And you are?" She asked, her curiousity evidently showing. Katara gave her a warm smile.

" I am Katara, of the Water Tribe." Katara said, and sat when Zuko offered her a seat. Both Katara and Zuko's eyes never left each other's. Ursa raised both eyebrows.

" Well, it seems like we have a lot to talk about." She said, as she took a seat.

::~

" Ah, so you are a waterbender?" Ursa asked Katara, who held on to Zuko's other arm. Ursa held is left arm, and Katara held his right arm. All three walked together on the small path that surrounded Ursa's small cottage, complying to her wish of taking a walk.

Zuko couldn't have looked happier. Occasionally, he would steal glances at his mother, just to make sure she was there. Katara noticed that his eyes seemed to show all of the love he couldn't say.

" Yes Ursa, I am a waterbender." Katara said. Zuko added, " A master at that." He couldn't resist but boast about Katara.

" Zuko's a master firebender." Katara said, repaying him for his compliment/brag. Ursa's eyebrows rose.

" A master? It seems like just yesterday you were creating your first flame." Ursa said, leaning her head on Zuko's shoulder.

" I am proud of you, Zuko. I only hope that your father is too." Ursa said. Zuko scowled.

" Father is dead."

Ursa gasped. Zuko's good mood seemed to shatter at the mention of his father.

" He's right, Lady Ursa. Ozai died a few weeks ago." Katara said, watching Zuko carefully. Ursa seemed to be deep in thought.

" So does that mean Iroh has taken charge?" Ursa said, noticing that her son's good mood had vanished. She decided to give him time to cool down before she spoke to him directly. She remembered that as a child, Zuko was prone to outbursts when he was upset.

" No, I did, mother. I am the Fire Lord now." Zuko said, as he stared at the bordering fire lilies on the path. How did he not notice that? That would have been a clear clue that his mother was living in the cottage.

" Oh." Ursa said. Zuko raised an eyebrow. Katara laughed.

" Mother, I went from caring for turtle ducks when I was nine, to a powerful Fire Lord. And all you have to say is 'oh'?" Zuko said, teasing. Ursa let go of his hand and pointed a finger at him.

" You may be Fire Lord, but I am still your mother, and you still have to do what I say, don't you forget it." Ursa said, and Katara raised an eyebrow.

Zuko laughed, and then seemed very pensive.

" Mother, would you consider returning home? To become Fire Lady again?" Zuko said, turning to her. Ursa looked at Katara and she was met with an encouraging nod.

" Zuko I would love to return. But not as Fire Lady." Ursa said, shaking her head. Zuko waited patiently for the explanation he knew would come.

" The Fire Lady's role cannot be mine. I am old, and have had my share. The Fire Lady must be the woman you love, Zuko. I will not take her rightful place." Ursa said.

" And Azula?" Ursa asked, thinking about her other child. Zuko turned towards her.

" She's in an asylum. She lost it when Katara and I beat her in an Agni Kai for the throne." Zuko said. Ursa held back the tears of the one child she simply wasn't able to reach.

::~

Bumi laughed as he saw Zuko sputter in utter embarrassment. Complimenting his mother on her looks was moved up on the list of how to annoy the Fire Lord. Katara had to do everything she could to pull Zuko away from the castle and back on their way to the Fire Nation.

Ursa made sure the Zuko wasn't near when she pulled Katara aside.

" May I talk to you for a moment?"Ursa said. Katara nodded and she was led to the side of a boat Bumi had given them. Katara liked Ursa a lot already, and she had known her for merely a day. Katara only hoped Ursa liked her as well.

" It may be out of my place to say this, because I haven't been with Zuko for over ten years, but as a mother, I want what's best for my child. It's the reason why I left in the first place, believe it or not." Ursa started. Katara nodded, telling her to continue.

The water was a bright cerulean, and was reflected in Ursa's eyes as she spoke.

" You and Zuko are together, are you not?" Ursa asked. Katara gulped and nodded.

Oh no, what if Ursa didn't want them to be together? Katara always thought that if she met Ursa she wouldn't object, but now she was in the living flesh in front of her, what if she didn't approve? Katara looked worried as she twidled her thumbs.

" We are together, very recently, yes." Katara said, gazing at the water to calm her nerves. Ursa sighed.

" I never thought Zuko would be able to open himself up to someone that trustingly, like he does to you." Ursa said. " That other girl, what was her name? It doesn't matter. They were both young, and she was interested, but I knew the caliber of her family. Eventually she would only want the title." Ursa said. Katara raised an eyebrow.

" You're telling me that you never approved of Mai?" Katara asked, as she felt a bit calmer. Ursa nodded, her black hair flowing behind her because of the wind. She had pulled her hair into half a top knot, and the rest loose. Katara was also clad in Fire Nation garb.

" I never did." Ursa said, as she turned and faced Katara once more. If she was going to ensure her son's happiness, she had to do this. " Katara, I know Zuko cares for you. More than you can ever imagine. I can see it through a mother's eyes. Please, treat him well." Ursa said.

Katara's eyes widened. " Ursa, I have to tell you." Katara replied, once again leaning over the side of the boat and gazing at the water that seemed to be calling to her. It seemed completely fine too, that she wanted to swim in the middle of the bright ocean to simply forget her fears.

" I love your son. It's amazing, actually. I never thought I would, because we were enemies during the war. I can't help but hope, that he will love me in return." Katara answered. Ursa's eyes glistened. Katara's gaze on the water didn't break. The water is fine, but so is fire. They didn't have to be so different. She knew this now. It didn't matter where she came from, as long as she knew who she wanted to be with.

" I didn't realize it for a while, but on this journey to find you, I found myself thinking of him more than I normally do. I can't really explain it. All I know is that I feel love, burning and coursing through my veins as we speak of him. And I can't imagine myself with anyone other than him. Ever." Katara said, as she noticed Ursa's reaction. Ursa happily embraced Katara, holding her tight.

" From now on, I will do anything in my power to ensure that Zuko tells you what he feels." Ursa said, happily. She was already creating a plan. Once she returned to the Fire Nation, she would find a time to share it with Iroh.

" There's no need." They both heard a deep voice say. Zuko stepped out from the shadows, slowly walking towards them Katara stared at him with widened eyes. Ursa looked at her, and knew the fear Katara must have been feeling. She wasn't planning on confessing to Zuko. And now he knew.

Zuko reached them and he pulled Katara close to him.

" You love me, huh?" He said, his eyes warm and aglow. Katara started to stammer.

" Yes.. I uh- I" She said, cursing herself inwardly for stumbling upon words. Zuko smiled, and then turned to his mother, who was watching the whole scene with fascination.

" Mother, you're right about what you said earlier." Zuko said, as he looked back at Katara who was starting to blush madly from his hold.

" Um, what I said earlier?" Said Ursa, her heart reaching out to Katara. Zuko's hold on her didn't seem to loosen not even a fraction. He was enjoying making Katara squirm way too much.

" Yes, what you said earlier. You couldn't possibly take the Fire Lady's place." Zuko said, getting down on one knee. Ursa gasped. Katara seemed ready to faint once he let her go.

" Katara, would you like to be my Fire Lady?" Zuko asked, holding out a betrothal necklace that he had been working on ever since they started the journey.

::~

" Oh wow, the Fire Nation has changed!" Ursa said, as she traveled by palaquin beside Katara and Zuko. Iroh greeted them at the palace doors.

" Welcome back, Zuko, and Lady Katara." Iroh said. He didn't spot Ursa right away. She hopped off of the palaquin, and ran to Iroh. He dropped the cup of tea that he had been holding once he saw her.

" Fire Lady Ursa! You have returned!" Iroh said, as he gave her a grand hug. Zuko walked behind her, holding Katara around the waist. Iroh gave them a smile.

" I am proud of you, Zuko. You have found your mother, and brought her home. You have truly fulfilled your destiny." Iroh said, patting him on the back. Zuko smiled, and then gave a sly smile to Ursa. Ursa smiled back and nodded.

" Hmmm, not yet Uncle. You haven't seen the other part of my destiny." Zuko said, as he pulled Katara forward. Iroh looked confused as he saw her.

" Meet the other part of my destiny. Future Fire Lady Katara." Zuko said, pride lacing his voice. Iroh's eyes widened even more. Katara fingered the betrothal necklace, that had a blue satin strap, with a cirlce, engraved with the Fire Nation sign, and the Water Tribe sign.

" We're getting married!" Katara said, excitedly. Iroh gave a hearty laugh and embraced them both. He leaned towards Zuko and whispered in his ear.

" I suspect you'll get working on those grandbabies soon, no?" Iroh said. Zuko blushed and sputtered.

" UNCLE!" he said, completely embarrassed.

::~

Did you guys like it? This chapter was really hard to write. It took a long time, too. I hope you enjoyed reading the story just as much as I did!

Oh, and tell me if you want an epilogue! I might write one. But only if you tell me!

Thank you for reading The Water is Fine!