A/N: This is my very first fanfic I have EVER written. I've been reading fanfiction for years but just decided not that long ago to finally give writing a shot. I hope you guys like it and if you have any advice or criticism, pleeeease leave a review! I want to become a better writer if I can and would love the help so please read and tell me what you think :)
"I can't believe it's been 5 years already" thought Katara as she got ready for the day ahead of her.
It's been exactly 5 years since the end of the war and the gaang is getting back together again at Zuko's summer home on Ember Island. They always made sure to get together for a week or so around this time of year.
Katara is excited to see all her old friends again. After the war, Aang has been so busy flying around the world on Appa keeping the peace, that they hardly ever see each other anymore.
Toph has become one of the most respected earth benders in the world and has been busy in Ba Sing Se teaching metal bending to the dai li.
Sokka and Suki had gotten married soon after the war and moved back to the Southern water tribe so Sokka could eventually take over the position of Chief from their Dad, but Katara just couldn't go with them. After seeing the world and meeting so many new people, she just didn't feel right about leaving the beauty of trees and flowers and every other beautiful thing she'd seen during her journey with the Avatar. Going back to a bleak tundra just wasn't going to happen.
The decision to turn down the chance to go home was easy enough, but then she had a bit of a problem. She had no home. At first she considered continuing to live as a nomad with Aang, but she felt like she had so much more to offer. That was when Zuko offered her a position as representative of the Southern water tribe in the Fire nation. After all, now that they were trying to keep peace between the nations, it made sense to have the opinions of various regions close by. As soon as Zuko came to her with the proposal it was obvious that this was what she was supposed to do. She would be able to voice her opinions and Zuko even offered to let her live in the palace. It was perfect for her.
It didn't take long for Katara to get ready and soon she was walking towards the docks to watch for her friends' arrivals. As she walked her mind wandered to the man she now considered her best friend. After years of working and living together, they had developed a special bond.
"I really don't know what I would've done without Zuko. If it weren't for him I still might not have a home."
And life at the palace was great. She would go to meetings and would give her opinion on certain plans whenever she was consulted. After the war she was very well respected and no one ever dared interrupt her when she spoke. Part of that may be due to how angry Zuko would get if he saw any disrespect aimed at Katara.
He truly was her best friend. When there weren't any meetings to be had and no paperwork to be done, they would spend their time walking through the gardens that surrounded the palace and just talked. They talked about everything. They could share every doubt or worry they ever had and the other was always there to listen.
As she approached the docks, she noticed that Zuko was already there waiting for any sign of their friends.
"Hey Zuko" she said with a smile as he turned to look at her.
"Hey Katara" he greeted her just as warmly as she walked towards him. He couldn't help but look at her a little longer than normal. The sun was setting and the way the light hit her skin made her glow.
"Any sign of them?"
"No, not yet, but Aang should be here any minute with Sokka and Suki"
Just as he said this they caught a glimpse of something on the horizon. As it got closer, they could easily recognize the big lovable flying bison. It only took about a minute for them to reach the docks.
Zuko watched as Aang and Suki jumped off of Appa before he had even landed and Aang wrapped Katara in a big friendly hug. "I've missed you sooo much, Katara! I have so many stories to tell you!"
"I missed you too Aang, and I can't wait to hear all about it" she said smiling at her old friend. Even though he is now 17 and is much taller than Katara, he's still the same as the happy and excited kid he was five years ago.
Aang was soon pushed away and replaced by Suki,"This is from everyone back home. Gran Gran, your Dad, and everyone else sends their love and they all wanted me to make sure I tell you they miss you very much!"
"I miss them all too! Make sure you give everyone extra big hugs and tell them they're from me, ok?"
"No problem" Suki said with a huge smile on her face. Then they started talking about all the water tribe gossip going around and that's when Zuko zoned out, not that he could have stayed there long anyway.
"Zuko!"
He barely had time to react before he was tackled by a "man hug" from Sokka. It was amazing how in the relatively short time they spent together during the war, they became pretty close friends, and their friendship hadn't faded through the years. They started talking and it didn't take long for them to get into a very passionate discussion about weaponry. Sokka wanted to know all about the latest innovations the fire nation had made and Zuko was glad to tell him all about it.
He was so into the conversation, he didn't even notice the huge ship sail up to the dock.
"Toph!" he heard Aang yell.
"Hey twinkle toes, long time no see" They turned to see a much taller, and much more feminine, Toph standing on the dock. It wasn't long before they were all gathered around and there were greetings and hugs everywhere.
"Woah Toph what happened to you? Last year you were all short and stubby!"
Sokka definitely deserved the hard punch in the arm he received from Toph after that comment.
After Sokka recovered and he and Toph had a short argument, they all started talking about their lives. They had been talking together for almost an hour when Zuko decided it was time to head back to the house.
"Alright guys grab your bags and lets go get you guys settled in."`
And so they all started the walk up to the house, talking and laughing the whole way there.
After they decided on rooms and everyone got their things upstairs, everyone gathered in the living room where Aang started telling everyone about one of the adventures he had while he was in the Earth Kingdom.
Zuko tried to listen, but he was having a little bit of trouble concentrating on Aang with Katara sitting right next to him. He could smell the jasmine perfume he had gotten her for her birthday and the aroma was clouding his thoughts.
He didn't know exactly when it happened, but he had fallen for his best friend. He had always thought she was beautiful even when they were enemies, but this was different. Sometimes, when he did paperwork, he noticed that he had stopped writing without realizing it because he had been daydreaming about her. Again. And when they go on their walks, he doesn't feel like he has to hide any of his feeling like he does around everyone else. He trusts her completely, and that is a strange feeling for him. Even when he was with Mai, he had to keep his feeling in check just to make sure she didn't get mad and blow up in his face."
"Zuko. Zuuuko… hey Sparky!" He jumped at the sound of Toph's voice and noticed everyone staring at him.
"Did I miss something?"
Toph just rolled her eyes and said, "We were asking how being 'mighty Firelord Zuko' has been."
"Oh, it's uhh, good I guess. It can get pretty stressful at times running a whole nation and everything though" he said while awkwardly scratching the back of his head.
Sokka got a huge smile on his face then. "Ya know what I think? I think you need a fire LADY to, ahem, 'release' some of that stress for ya when you're done with work if ya know what I mean."
Zuko just blushed as Sokka stared at him wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Ya, Sparky, isn't it time you got a wife anyway? I thought most firelords got married within a few years after taking the thrown if they weren't married already."
"Well I.. uhh, I just haven't found the right one yet."
"Woah wait. You're telling me that you can't find a girl to marry? You're FIRELORD ZUKO for goodness' sake!" Sokka couldn't believe Zuko was having trouble finding a girl.
"Guys, leave Zuko alone. He'll get married when he's ready to get married," said Katara, noticing her friend's embarrassment.
Conversation once again returned to storytelling as everyone couldn't wait to talk about all they've accomplished in the last year.
Everyone that is except for Zuko. He watched whoever was talking for the most part, but he couldn't help but keep glancing to his right at Katara. This didn't go unnoticed by Suki who was sitting directly across from them. She raised an eyebrow at this but otherwise kept quiet.
The group just sat there talking for hours just laughing and having a good time. They only stopped to eat a delicious dinner which Katara had prepared. She could have brought a servant to cook the meals, but Katara liked to cook and didn't really want servants hanging around anyway. After dinner, Zuko did seem to lighten up and get more involved in the conversation. They talked into the night until yawns started to take up more and more of the conversation and everyone decided to head off to bed.
They headed upstairs and Sokka and Suki made their way to their bedroom at the end of the hall. Aang turned into his room that was the last room on the right and Toph entered hers that was right across from Aang's.
Katara stayed downstairs and decided to do some dishes and Zuko decided to stay down and help her.
"Well that sure was an exciting day wasn't it Zuko?"
He just made an agreeing "hm"
They stood there washing dishes in a comfortable silence until Katara spoke up. "You shouldn't take what my brother and Toph say too seriously ya know."
Zuko's reply was simply a confused look.
She clarified,"You shouldn't feel any pressure to find a wife right away"
"Toph is right though. Usually the firelord would have a wife to help him rule by now."
"Well I don't think you should get married until you find a woman who is perfect for you."
"Oh really? And what do you think that woman would be like?"
She thought about this for a moment. "Well, she would be someone who makes you laugh. She needs to be stubborn enough to be able to handle your tantrums but not too controlling… oh and she needs to have a brain."
He stood and nodded in agreement but then he got a look of realization, "I do not have tantrums!"
She just gave him a look and he stopped his arguments.
"Anyway, she should also be kind and compassionate but authoritative enough to let people know that she means business."
He just stood there and thought to himself, "I wonder if she realizes she just described herself."
There was another long silence until the dishes were finished and it was time to go to bed like everyone else. They headed upstairs and before they went to their separate bedrooms, they turned to each other.
"If you really want to find the perfect girl, don't listen to Sokka and use your power as firelord to get her to love you. Show who you really are, because that's what will make the right girl fall in love with you. Not the power and fame."
He just smiled down at her. "Thanks Katara."
She gave him a quick hug. "Goodnight Zuko."
"Goodnight"
As soon as Zuko was in his room, he flopped onto the bed and sighed.
"She's way too good for me."