Epilogue

Katara's POV

Five years later…

My eyes opened to the darkness that settled in the room. Looking around, I could see the dark silhouettes of the furniture in the room, trying to make sure that nothing else was in here with me. I sighed softly when I did not see anything unusual, laid back down on the bed, and rested my hand on my heart, which had been quickly against my chest. However, the sheets seemed to be a lot colder than I remembered. I turned to the other side and saw that it was empty. Feeling my heart pick back up, I rose from the bed quickly and raced to the door that connected my room to another set of rooms. I reached for the closest source of water to me from the flowers that were sitting in a vase on the table behind me. Gathering as much courage as I could, I opened the door quietly to give myself an advantage, but when I saw the seen before me, the water fell from my hands, and I placed my hands on my chest.

Standing there in the room, I saw Zuko, with his back facing me, softly singing:

"Leaves from the vine

Falling so slow

Like fragile, tiny shells

Drifting in the foam

Little soldier boy

Come marching home

Brave soldier boy

Comes marching home…"

I did not speak as I watched him hold onto a little bundle in his arms, softly crooning the gentle tune. A smile grew on my face as he began to rock the bundle back and forth in his arms, never turning around to address me. I walked quietly forward and saw that the little boy in the blanket's eyes were open as he held onto Zuko's finger. It did not seem as though he was tired enough to go to sleep as he was having too much fun listening to his father. His bright and golden eyes looked up at me, and I made a silly face at him, to which he began to giggle.

"He's never going to go to sleep if you don't stop playing with him."

I laughed as I pointed out, "He's not going to go to sleep anyways. Might as well have a little fun while we stay up or at least try to tire him out."

He shrugged as he turned around to look at me, "What's wrong? I didn't think that I woke you up."

"You didn't. I just woke up from a bad dream is all."

He started to worry and his brow furrowed, "What happened?"

I reached for Zian, who seemed to be getting restless, and bounced him on my knee after sitting on one of the cushioned chairs in the corner, "It wasn't anything too bad. Just some memories of the war and everything afterward. Not all of them were that bad, but the last one of you disappearing freaked me out."

He nodded and kneeled down in front of me, grabbing one of my hands into his and kissing the palm, "Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore now. I promise I'm not just going to disappear on you without telling you where I'm going first."

I gave him a skeptical look, "Like you did ten minutes ago?"

He raised his hand to scratch the back of his head as he chuckled nervously, "Sorry about that."

Laughing, I just shook my head before telling him seriously, "You need to get to bed. You have that meeting tomorrow with leaders from the Water Tribes, Omashu, and Ba Sing Se."

He only smiled and waved me off, "You two are more important than some meeting."

I rolled my eyes and shifted Zian, "That may be, but this meeting is important. I mean, spreading the technological advances we have is amazing and will improve the economy."

He laughed softly before shaking his head, "Yes, that is true, but I need my wife and son to go to sleep as well if they want to be able to see Sokka and the others tomorrow."

I wrinkled my nose, but sighed as I looked down at the little boy in my arms, who was still wide awake. A question suddenly popped into my head, "Zuko, what was that song that you were singing earlier?"

He blushed softly, but said, "'Leaves from the vine… Uncle used to sing it to me when I was little and he was visiting. He told me that he used to sing it to my cousin Lu Ten whenever he was a baby and would get restless."

"I like it," I said, smiling down at him. "Is your Uncle going to be here as well?"

"From what he told me, he took an early ship because he was "too old" to be riding on Appa, so he will be here sometime tomorrow. I don't know when. Sokka, Suki, and Queyue will be here at sunrise on their own ship as representatives of the Water Tribes. Toph and Aang will be here around noon as well." He smiled back before giving a long yawn.

I moved forward, shifting so that I did not hurt Zian as I kissed Zuko softly on the lips, "Go to sleep. You need your rest. I'm just going to put this little boy to sleep and will be there in a second."

He gave me a look, but finally gave up in trying to get me to go to sleep, kissing me once more before disappearing into our room. I shook my head, but then focused my attention to Zian, who seemed to be more awake than ever, "What am I ever going to do about your daddy?"

Zian tilted his head to the side in confusion before he started to laugh and clap his hands in front of him. I opened up the blanket a little so that I could pull his shirt up and blow little raspberries into his stomach, to which he squealed in delight.

"Alright Zian," I said as his laughter died down, "Would you like to hear a story about me and your father?"

I took his smile as a yes and nestled him back into the little blue blanket, "Now, several years ago, before you were born, your daddy and I got married here in the Fire Nation."

His eyes grew wide, almost as if he knew exactly at the age of ten months.

"Everyone was there, your aunts, uncles, cousin, grandpas, and even your great gran gran. Your father and I were really nervous though," I chuckled softly. "Though, it was really beautiful…"


Four years ago…

"Katara! Everything is going to be okay! Don't be scared!" Suki yelled through the door as I began to vomit anything that I had ever eaten that day.

"Yeesh, Sugar Queen, relax a little," Toph was standing outside too, and even though she would never admit it, she was very worried. "It's not like he's going to run off and disappear again."

Another wave came over me when she said that, and I heard Suki slap her arm, "Why would you say that!?"

"What? It's true!"

"C'mon Toph! She's sitting in there vomiting! We're trying to help her down the aisle! Not help throw everything down the drain!"

I could hear the sound of a snort, a slap to the arm, and the indignant yelp of pain as I stopped hurling into the basin below me. My head began to pound, and I took this moment to get rid of all of the contents in the basin before I started to breathe slowly on the cold tiles. I could feel goosebumps begin to form on my arms and the back of my neck as the slip I was wearing was very thin. My dress was laying on a chair in the room, practically begging me to get over myself and just wear it, but my brain just shot down the idea. It was a beautiful dress made of pure white silk embroidered with intricate patterns of silver and blue stitching that made the dress glow brilliantly in the light. My hair was to be done in an intricate braid that would sweep my hair from my shoulders into an elegant bun at the back of my head. It was quiet outside for a while, and I thought that maybe Suki and Toph had decided to just leave me alone, but of course that's never the case…

"SUGARQUEEN GET YOUR ASS OUT OF THERE!"

I rolled my eyes at the sound of Toph's voice, but it wasn't until I saw that the door to the bathroom had been completely obliterated as a gigantic rock blasted itself through. Looking up at the wreckage, I saw that Toph and Suki were dressed the palest of blue kimono's with a deep navy obi wrapped around their waists. The fabric of the kimonos had hundreds of intricate swirls embroidered in white and blue stitch pattern that caused the swirls to dance like water. They both decided that it would be easier to stay within a more neutral look as far as makeup goes, but differed greatly in their hair preferences. Suki's auburn air now had reached her shoulder blades and was slightly curled while pulled to the back of her head in a loose bun with numerous white flowers adorned in the style. Toph also had white flowers adorned in her hair, but in a long, braid that rested on her shoulder with her natural bangs swept out of her face, but still remaining as a trademark.

Suki knelt down beside me and lifted me off of the ground, "Katara! You're not dressed, your makeup is still not done, and you haven't even brushed your hair."

Toph gave a little sniff as she mentioned, "And from the smell of it, she could use a good bath too."

The older girl gave a groan as she ran the bath, waiting for the temperature to be desirable, "Katara you need to talk to us. What's going on? I've heard of cold feet, but this is ridiculous."

I bit my lip, but before I could say anything the door to my bedroom was opened, and in came Sokka with Queyue in his arms, who was dressed in a pure white kimono with patterns of red and blue embroidered swirls stitched on. Her beautiful chocolate brown hair cascaded in thick waves, and two strands were pulled back from the front together at the back of her head with white flowers threaded in the strands. Two azure eyes stared at me from where she held onto her father, and she reached out her little arms to me. As a natural instinct, I lifted my arms and picked her up from Sokka. She wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered in my ear softly with her broken up childish voice, "Id be otay…"

I smiled at the sound of her voice, and whispered back, "Thank you angel."

Nervously smiling at the others, I mumbled out, "Okay… I think that I can do this."

Toph whooped and hollered before shoving Sokka out of the door, and picking up Queyue from my hands, "Katara, shower quickly. We do not have time for this backing out crap again!"

"Toph!" Suki berated before grabbing Queyue's ears with her hands. "Don't say things like that in front of her! It's bad enough I have to remind Sokka not to!"

Toph just waved her off, "I said worse when I was her age. Hell, my mom and dad always put me in the care of some old man who never cared to be delicate with his language, so I won't either. If you keep on acting up when it happens, then she is going to pick it up no matter what."

I just rolled my eyes and walked over the basin, and quickly set to removing any sweat that I had gathered while I was vomiting my brains out. Typically, I didn't care for modesty, but I opted to just keep the slip I was wearing on so that I could wash it out as well.


I was sitting down on a chair beside the door that would lead me to the grand pavilion. I could feel all sorts of emotions churning in my stomach and closed my eyes, trying to focus my attention on something else. Suki and Toph were standing beside me trying to cool down my face or comfort me in any way they possibly could, but I wasn't really paying any attention to them. I was thinking about what the council had said a year ago when Zuko told them about his proposal to me. He didn't know that I was in the corridor listening to every word they said at the time. Regardless, they expressed many concerns about the potential dangers of having a Water Tribe wife. It wasn't until General Iroh stepped in to intervene that as they had seen at the Fire Lord's ball, that I demonstrated all of the mannerisms of any noble woman and in accordance with the law, I was recognized as a princess to all of the nations, especially the Fire Nation. The council stopped speaking after that, but still held some reservations about allowing me to be their Fire Lady.

"How are you feeling?"

Looking up, I saw Dad standing in front of me with an amused look on his face, "I'm fine. I guess… I don't know…"

He gave a soft chuckle before kneeling down in front of me, smiling widely with tears in his eyes, "You know your mother would be very proud of the woman you have become…"

I felt my eyes starting to water before he placed his hand on my cheek, "I could see her right now, though, running up and down the halls to make sure that everything was perfect for your wedding day."

I gave a small snort as I remembered her running about the igloo trying to clean everything down if someone was coming over to our home, "No matter what, she always had to do something or help someone out, even if they were pushing her out of the door. Your mother was a lot like you, and I know that after I left to fight in the war, you took it as if it was your responsibility to take care of the village just as she had."

My throat constricted and I couldn't say anything, "I know that you felt as if there was no other choice, and I don't blame you, but as our village continues to grow and expand, I want you to know that your responsibility is to live your life and to have love in your heart. You were always so passionate about helping people and giving to those who had nothing, and that isn't a bad thing…" He cleared his throat, "But I want you to remember that while you help those in need to not forget to help yourself as well. You are about become a wife and soon a mother when the time comes…" Adding on the last part with extra emphasis as if to say 'wait for a long time before that happens'.

I smiled, "Katara, you have always given everyone else everything you could afford to give and then some, but never bothered to take care of yourself at times. I love you, but don't stress yourself to the point of breaking when you are assisting Zuko in ruling this nation. Your mother may have been exasperating with helping others and from your stories I know that you can be too. Just don't be afraid to ask for help sometimes."

"Okay Dad." I said softly, but before I could say anything else, he continued, "This next step you are going to take is a big one, but I want you to know that I am so proud of you. And though she can't be here, your mother and I will both be walking you down that aisle as is our custom."

My hand moved up for my mother's necklace, but I remembered that I removed it for my betrothal necklace, and I cried softly, "Katara, she always intended for you to remove it when you would marry. It is your turn to present it to your future daughter as a reminder of her heritage."

"Are you guys ready?" Suki spoke from behind us with Toph standing there next to her. I looked over to where they stood and smiled with tears shimmering down my cheeks.

"Yeah, I just need a moment," turning to Dad, "I just need to speak with my mother."

They all nodded as they walked down the hall to give me space. With my hands placed under my chin, I whispered to my mother, speaking to her as if she were there with me, "Momma, I want to thank you for everything. Zuko, is a really good man, and I love him with all my heart. I really wish you could meet him in person. I really miss you, but I know you're here with us to walk with Dad and me down the aisle. I love you Momma."

With that being said, I stood from my chair and looked over to the others, "I'm ready."


After half an hour, Suki and Toph walked through the doors, finally it was my turn to walk with my father on my left hand side. He kissed my cheek and we walked through the doorway to the pavilion, I felt my heart give until I saw him standing there in front of me with a look of pure love on his face. The corners of my mouth quirked upward as he reached out for my hand shook my father's. My heart stilled when he whispered 'I love you' to me, and we never turned away from each other as the Southern Priest and the Fire Sage began the ceremony. All of the words faded from my memory until Zuko asked if he could speak.

I felt a clench in my heart, but he smiled to me as he spoke, "Several years ago, we met in the Southern Pole for the first time when I was smacked in the head by your brother's boomerang into the snow," everyone laughed when he openly admitted to that. "It seemed at that point that I would always be humiliated whenever we would meet again. You were a fearsome thing to behold when we would fight and passionate about helping others even when they earned none of your charity. Neither of us can say that we loved one another from the very beginning…"

We smiled, "But I can definitely say that I have never been as happy as I am right now to know that you are my best friend, my one true love, and I honestly cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

I felt the tears starting to roll down my cheeks, and I turned to look at the priests before I followed with, "About a year ago, you were poisoned, and I thought that I had lost everything in that one moment. The only thing that I could hear was the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. I concentrated on it and used the rhythm to bring your own heart to beat normally, and it was like scary because it took to the heartbeat as if it was a natural pace. I didn't think much of it at that moment, but I realize that it's because our hearts beat exactly the same even before you were poisoned. Your heartbeat matched mine. It took me a while, but I realize that we were meant to be together. I know that there are people who think that we would hurt each other more being together than do any good from it," He gave a look of worry on his face, but I brushed it off. "But I don't want to lose you because of what others may think or what I used to think…" I paused, looking down at the ground.

"I've met many people in my life, and a lot of them have come and gone. I don't want another moment to pass us by if that means we will never be together because life gets in the way. I want to spend the rest of my life with my other half…"

I looked up to see Zuko smiling with a tear rolling down his cheek. He pulled me to him and pressed his lips against mine. We didn't care that the priests were a little exasperated by the break in tradition, but regardless, when we broke apart, everyone clapped for us. I felt a smile break on my face and we turned to the priests who continued with the ceremony, but everyone knew that at that point we were already bonded to one another, possibly long before we even knew it.

"So we were married for three years, working together to restore the balance that the Fire Nation Rebels had created until one fateful day the Spirits brought two very special people into our lives." I said as I saw that Zian began to yawn in his cradle, drifting off slowly. In the meantime, on the other side of the room, the sound of rustling came from another cradle. I smiled down at Zian and covered him with his little blanket before moving over to the other side of the room, and then looked down at the blue pools of a beautiful little girl's eyes. She reached her arms up to ask for me to pick her up, and I started to coo at her as I pulled her close to me, "That's right! Two little people came into our lives. Zian and you, Xue. Your daddy and I were so happy when we found out that we were going to have you both."

I kissed the tips of her little fingers and walked toward the window, where I saw the moon shining brightly in the night sky, "Look Xue, that is Yue. She is the one that helped your daddy and I find each other. One day you're going to find someone that you love, but don't do what I did and push your feelings away because if there is one thing that Yue taught me, it's that we should always love our people and help them. There may come a time when you have to make the most difficult decision in your life between what you should do and what others expect you to do. Don't become someone else because others told you. Do what you believe is right and protect the ones you love. You will learn that a life filled with love is better than a life filled with regret."

She stared at me with a confused look for a long time, and I smiled, "I guess you don't know what I'm talking about, but one day you will. How about I tell you about the time that your daddy saved me from the pirates?"


AN: Thank you so much for being patient with me as I wrote this. For a while I was busy with school or had writer's block, but it's finally complete. If you read this without reading my other stories which explain a lot between the relationships and storyline, then I ask that you at least go back to read them because they are very important.

Thank you.

Once again, ATLA doesn't belong to me.