Pale and tight-lipped, blue eyes bloodshot and a bit unfocused, Katara arrived in the Bridal Preparation Torture Chamber to assist Toph and hopefully spare the lives of the many devoted attendants her parents had employed, bribed, and menaced into assisting them. Horrors from Toph's debutante ball of five years prior still rang in the hearts and fractured souls of the Gaoling people, her tantrums and mass destruction leaving them cold and fervently wishing she would never again need their assistance for a formal occasion. It had in fact been Iroh who had cajoled (and imported) many of the staff to run a great deal of the wedding proper.

"Finally! I was about to send out Momo to find you," Toph called over as she heard the familiar tapping of Katara's heels on the polished stone floors. "Hey, could you show these ladies how to—ow ow ow ow ow!"

"I'll get it," whispered Katara, quickly releasing the attendant from the wilds of Toph's hair. She was sure it was sentient; it had probably lured the hairdresser's hands with false promises of being tame and manageable.

"Thanks; so where were you? The pages couldn't find you this morning." Toph grimaced but gripped her thighs tightly as Katara worked her magic on the tangled snares. With a gasp the hairdresser was freed and nodded respectfully (and silently) to Katara in thanks.

"Out," Katara breathed, her anxiety ramping up again as more and more memories assaulted her. The flowers, so many flowers...

Seven. Long. Years.

"Yeah, we gathered that. Anyway, tell me, is Aang as nervous as everyone says he is? I heard he tried to sneak in three times this morning to ask for help with his robes."

Hands still gathered in Toph's hair, Katara shook her head. "Dunno." She took a breath and forced herself to focus.

Furrowing her (neatly trimmed and shapely) brow, Toph grunted. "Your hands are cold up there, Katara—were you splashing in the ponds with the turtleducks or something?"

Faltering, Katara took a step back and inadvertently yanked on Toph's hair.

Cursing and shoving Katara up against a stone wall she bent behind her, Toph jumped out of her chair and faced down her best friend.

"What is wrong with you! This is my wedding day, Katara. I thought you were supposed to be supporting and helping me? Scalping isn't helping!"

"I..."

"Well?"

Silence as Katara swallowed and tried to find words. All that came out was a choked gasp.

Her stormy eyes clearing, Toph raised a hand to Katara's cheeks and felt wetness slick her palms.

"Oh, Katara." She sighed, opening her arms. "Everyone, out," she ordered quietly.

They ran.

When they were alone Katara sniffled and wrapped her arms around Toph.

"You finally figured it out?" Toph said, more declaration than query.

Katara nodded into Toph's shoulder.

"You feel pretty stupid?"

She nodded again.

"Have you cornered him in a closet yet to jump his bones?"

Pause. Small shake of her head, no.

"Well, I think we know what Step Three is in this equation, don't we?"

Amazingly, Katara laughed. "I thought he was just being polite to me when we'd talk before," she admitted as she calmed Toph's hair prior to inviting the other attendants back in again.

"No, he had a hard time putting words together because he liked you so much. It was kind of adorkable, in that only-Zuko-can-pull-it-off way," Toph replied.

"I mean, I always... with Zuko... we tried to get along. For a long time, I did... want..."

"To roger him senseless, yes? I think even Aang could sense the two of you had chemistry together. But you and Aang were a pair so long everyone assumed you two were a Forever Couple, so Zuko kept his distance."

Looking up at the ceiling, Katara breathed slowly through her nose. "How. Long. Have. You. Known?" she bit off.

"That you two were attracted to each other? Since the beginning. Vibes, ya know. You two were giving them off like pheromones every time you were in a room together. And Zuko also asked his uncle to ask me about you once in a while. And by 'once in a while' I mean on a weekly basis; when he got really lonely, sometimes more. Oy, no more crying, we're running out of cucumbers."

"Because you keep eating them—stop it, you're going to ruin your manicure!" Katara slapped Toph's hand primly and dabbed at her eyes with a soft towelette.

"Oh, and by 'beginning', I mean since before Zuko was even on our side in the war," Toph couldn't resist adding. Katara could hear the smug grin in her friend's voice as she wheedled her further.

Pursing her lips, Katara glared at the top of Toph's head and nearly wished her ill on the day of her wedding. Then her hands stilled as she had an even better idea.

"You know, I think we need more hot hair wax," Katara announced, taking just a hint of pleasure lifting the saucer of pomade over the flames.

Toph groaned in misery. "Not again..."

Zuko stifled a groan as he saw the broad grin on his uncle's face. "Don't tell me, I can't afford to be an accessory," he muttered between his teeth, taking his place at his side.

"Oh, you'll want to be part of this," assured Iroh.

Setting his shoulders, Zuko sent a silent prayer heavenward to request a peaceful ceremony. His hopes were swiftly dashed as the band struck a jaunty jig and rows of guests dove for cover, screaming. Right on cue, Aang and Toph rode in and crashed down the aisles simultaneously on matching badgermoles while Katara swooped in on Appa, Momo gliding cheerfully alongside to settle on her shoulders.

"Let's get this party started!" whooped Toph.

Zuko tactfully refrained from rolling his eyes heavenward, but it was a close thing.

It would be a short, poignant ceremony.

—there was a crash as Momo tipped over a ceremonial scale that measured their 'virtues'; if it was perhaps symbolic it flipped before Toph's first 'virtue' could be weighed, no one mentioned it—

... Yes, very short.

"And thank you for such an... inspiring first dance as husband and wife, Aang, Toph," announced the host of ceremonies, as a pair of earthbenders rode their badgermoles now like Zambonis around the marble dancefloor, returning the pits and jutting stalagmites back to normal so the reception could continue. "For those still needing medical attention, please note the emergency personnel helpfully located by each exit.

"Now, let us enjoy the next dance with the Maid of Honour and Best Man!"

Gathering her courage and subtly adjusting the cleavage in her gown, Katara smiled warmly at Zuko as he took her hand in his. Unsure how to interpret her sudden change, his jaw clenched as he gripped her fingers more tightly and waited for her to give him a sign. Masking the movement by tossing her hair over her shoulder, she drew his attention down to her chest. Pinned to her dress he saw the addition of a single, slightly blemished fire lily.

"We should start moving together," Katara suggested, still smiling and squeezing his hand back.

"Y-yeah," he agreed, stunned. With her lips still smiling at him he drew her into a graceful arc, sweeping around the room.

It wasn't long before they were lost in each other's eyes.

Small chitchat turned to long conversation which settled into quiet murmurs, closer embraces, and sweet nothings whispered in each other's ears. Smiles brightened and eyes smouldered while fingertips traced, caressed and then gripped each other's fine clothing. At one point Katara's eyes met Zuko's and she bit her lip; then she gave the subtlest nod.

Watching it all, Iroh beamed when he caught the slight flush on his nephew's face. Finally, the Pai Sho master breathed to himself in pleased relief.

No one dared cut in; this may or may not have been due to the strange 'random' acts of air, fire, and earthbending that diverted anyone who stepped too close to the couple. Not that the couple in question noticed.

Stretching luxuriantly after an invigorating night of well-deserved, shared pleasure, Katara shook out her hair and smiled down at Zuko as his arms flopped down on either side of him.

"Someone looks happy," he purred, twisting a lock of her hair around his fingers. He loved her hair; his long, tapered fingers had been woven through it for most of the night. Then there were her sumptuous curves and flesh; he'd been unable to drag his mouth away from her warm, soft skin.

Arching a brow, Katara enjoyed the last of her delicious shudders as he pulsed deep inside her before lowering herself down and curling into his side.

"A woman should be proud of her accomplishments. And as you were quite vocal with your praise, I must be quite accomplished," she countered.

"Hmmmm," he agreed, his voice low and smooth.

"Do you still intend to leave this afternoon?" she asked, palm over his heart.

"Yes. But... I was hoping I could extend an invitation to you to join me."

The offer hung between them a moment.

Rubbing a hand down Katara's back, Zuko stroked her skin before drawing a light blanket over them both. "You don't need to answer right away," he added, already sensing rejection.

Katara smiled and kissed the naked skin of his scarred chest. "Give me some time to rearrange a few things with the Tribe, and I will join you."

His hand stumbled for a half-beat at her words. "For a visit? How long?" he asked, ignoring how eager it made him out to be.

Biting her lip, Katara lifted her head to meet his eyes. "How long will you have me?"

Chest rising, Zuko reached up to take her face in his hands and brought her mouth to his, kissing her soundly. "Forever," he growled, flipping them over so he was above her again.

"Oh, I think I remember this part." She teased, kissing him back and her hips rising to meet his. Then she smirked.

"And liked it," she added hoarsely, wrapping her legs around his waist again.

"Get used to it," he growled against her throat, and with now-practiced ease he slid home with a swallowed groan.

"Oh, I plan to," she retorted, and gasped as he grabbed her hips and adjusted their angle.

From the doorway of the library, Katara leaned against the frame and raised a brow at her Uncle-in-law.

"Are you keeping them up with torrid stories of our past, Uncle?"

From his place amid the gathered grandchildren, Iroh feigned innocence.

"Absolutely not! We were discussing their studies," he explained.

"Yeah, history!" piped up one of the dark-haired children.

"Uh huh. How far back?"

"Ummm..."

"That's what I thought. Come on, off to bed with you. You all have training in the morning before you head off to school," she said sternly, though her blue eyes shone back at Iroh knowingly.

"Aw Mo-m," they whined, and she ignored them as she steered them towards their bedrooms. Like the pack of reluctant, loving puppies they were, they gamboled off to their rooms good-naturedly.

Accepting her hand, Iroh pulled himself up to standing.

"Is my nephew...?"

"Sleeping like a baby. He had a long day. I didn't think you'd mind watching the kids for a bit while I finished up the treaty review," Katara said, hanging back to walk beside her favourite nanny.

"You're wearing him out," he chuckled.

"He doesn't mind," she confided with a wink. "We have a lot of missed time to make up for."

Iroh just laughed.

AN: Thank you for reading – I admit, this was hitting the cliché-wagon kinda hard. ;)

This was written in a pinch for sadladybug for the LJ comm KZ_secret_santa Exchange (Dec 2012 – Jan/Feb 2013). Thank you very much to Lia for the last-minute beta job—please note that all errors are still my own. I apologise it is a bit rushed—2 weeks, meep!

The prompts were:

1. tea-time

2. gift-giving

3. stormy

4. turtleducks

5. home is where you are

I hope you enjoyed! Happy February!

Posted: Feb 10, 2013