A/N: Wow…it's fully done now. Let me take a moment to breathe…

I'm going to try very hard to faithfully update my profile with news on what I'm up to fic-wise, so be sure to check in now and again if you want to know…things~~~

Thank you to Sarah for editing. And again, thank you to all of you :)

Epilogue

Four months later~

The morning was chilly and a tad damp for the normally salubrious Fire Nation climate. Katara contemplated the racing clouds in the sky. The sky behind the billowing white puffs was vibrantly crystalline. A deep, western blue gave way to what was sure to be a spectacular sunrise: indigo, mauve, blood red, and the faintest yellow beckoned from the horizon.

Katara sighed against the invigorating rustle of the breeze, pleased with the wash of color on this fine morning. She hoped that the clouds would continue on their path, or else clear away all together. She did not want anything to mar the day she and her friends had been working toward for four months.

"My Lady, shall I start on your hair? The Coronation is in an hour."

Lana appeared at Katara's side on the balcony. Katara turned to her maid and friend. The red head smiled. In her hands were a brush and the Fire Lady hairpin.

"Do you think I ought to wear that?" She asked without thought. "People might assume…"

Lana interrupted; something that amused Katara to no end, but something that also made her proud of how the girl had grown.

"Let them assume, my Lady," the girl transferred the pin to the other hand and wrapped an arm around Katara's frame. "You know they've been assuming things for ages. Your loyal subjects are the ones you ought to be worrying about. They'd be thrilled to see you radiant today."

Katara allowed herself to be steered into the chair at the vanity. She was grinning, she saw in the mirror. "And does Zuko look radiant, today?"

Lana's reflection gave Katara a stern look. "Why don't you go flirt with him and leave me out of it?"

Katara laughed and watched as Lana's skilled fingers began sculpting her mane into something presentable. The promising weather and Lana's cheerful mood didn't keep her at ease for long, however.

"Do you think he's ready?" Katara blurted, studying Lana's face for any sign of hesitation.

"You wouldn't be asking me that if you didn't already think so, Lady," Lana said matter-of-factly. "You know he's ready. You also know that you're ready to take your place beside him."

The maid swept the last of Katara's hair into a final braid and secured the hairpin. "There. A lovely Fire Lady."

Katara's eyes narrowed as she inspected the pin's reflection.

"It's too bad we must observe ceremony and wait to marry."

Lana grimaced in sympathy.

Really, the social convention was stupid and interfering. She was worried about what people would think of her marrying Zuko eventually, and of retaining her position as Fire Lady, but the very prospect of being Zuko's wife made those worries seem less troublesome. What really upset her was that Gisō's treachery apparently wasn't grounds enough for a remarriage in less than a year in the eyes of some citizens. Her engagement to Zuko hadn't even been announced to some closer relations let alone the public, but Katara knew the general populace had probably guessed.

Katara gave herself a shake and forced herself to ignore what hadn't even happened yet. Besides, she thought as she stared at herself in the mirror, today is Zuko's Coronation, and the majority of the people find that an exciting and positive thing. She would do her best to keep her nerves at bay. His acceptance was the important thing.

"It'll be okay, Lady Katara. You'll have your wedding," Lana assured her emphatically.

Katara smiled. "It's the marriage I want. One like yours."

Lana blushed, but could not keep the grin off her face. She was just in the process of applying perfume to Katara's neck when the doors opened and her husband came in.

After four months, Cale was still resplendent in his new, crisp uniform. Pitch black twinkled with golden buttons, and medals of valor and bravery betokened his promotion as Lieutenant. Katara was secretly pleased that the boy didn't let the heavy burden of the rank harden his charm. His eyes went right to his wife as he entered, and the two regarded each other with love Katara had once only associated with Sokka and Suki. And then she caught sight of the man behind Cale, and Katara forgot everything else.

Zuko rendered her speechless frequently, and she prayed she'd feel this effect until her dying day. Today was certainly no exception. Wrapped in his Coronation robes, his hair swept up from his regal face, Zuko positively gleamed.

Someone's throat cleared and Cale straightened and announced Zuko's arrival. Zuko smirked, and Katara reddened in a flush of desire. She cleared her throat, too.

As quickly as Cale had rushed into the room, Lana had escorted him out. Murmured words and the click of the door did not jar Katara from her little trance. Finally, Zuko's own face began to flush.

"Do you have to look at me like that?" He demanded peevishly. "I'm barely holding it together as it is."

Katara bit her tongue to halt the impish smile threatening her stony expression. "You look like you're holding on well, Zuko," she replied.

He smirked again, clearly pleased. His eyes roved over her as she stood to face him—feeling less vulnerable as she did so—and her eyes dropped to the floor.

Roku, help me. I'm being such a giddy fool.

Golden eyes sparkled. He stood tall and proud, fiercely ready to accept his role despite any misgivings he thought he had. She wished he could see himself as she saw him, if only to drive away any lingering doubts he harbored. Zuko was strong and perfect today.

She winced slightly when she recalled that Gisō had looked much the same on their wedding day. She had placed him on a pedestal then, and a tiny, prodding fear gripped her as she realized that maybe she was doing the same thing. She looked hard at Zuko, then, and saw he was looking hard back. She sighed.

The family resemblance was no longer strong in her eyes. Indeed, it was impossible to see the likeness when Zuko was looking at her with a warmth and desire Gisō never had. It was impossible to think that this man would be anything like Gisō when he treated her as a partner in crime rather than a war bride.

"Katara," his raspy voice pulled her to him. He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm nervous, I admit that. But, I'm ready. And I hope you are, too."

She frowned quizzically at him, and he elaborated. "No matter what anyone thinks or says, I'm seeing this as both of our coronations. You'll be my co-regent if not my wife. I need you."

Katara answered with a kiss. When they broke apart, she noticed he was slightly disheveled. She hoped Lana wouldn't mind.

"Before we go out," Zuko held her hand as the gong sounded from afar, "I have something for you."

He reached into the folds of his robes and extracted something. "It would make for a better wedding present, but I'm not very patient."

Katara's eyes widened as she saw the necklace. Her fingers went to her throat, where sat her mother's.

The new one was a scarlet velvet ribbon. The center piece was the broken earring that Gisō had cut himself on a lifetime ago. She blinked dumbly as Zuko circled around her.

"May I put it on? I've put a medium on the edge of the obsidian—it isn't dangerous."

Katara nodded and unfastened her old one. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as Zuko's fingers latched his gift into place. Warm lips brushed the swoop of her shoulder, but she turned around before he could continue.

"But, why the broken one? The other one was whole."

Her fiancé held out his hand, palm down. Her necklace's mate was now a facet of a ring on Zuko's finger. She licked her lips and stared at him, speechless yet again.

"The other piece is safe," he explained. I can try and make a new earring to go with it, and then you can have a set. But these," he ran a thumb over her throat. "I cut it in half through the break. It brought us together—officially."

His cheeks were on fire and the man was mumbling, embarrassment and uncertainty making him shy. Katara drew in a breath and kissed him again, groaning at the second ring of the gong.

"Time to go," Zuko whispered against her lips.

The sun was emerging from the horizon when the ceremony began. Katara was seated beside Ursa, and the two clutched hands as the Fire Sages blessed Zuko. Katara could see her family at the front of the assembled people. Sokka waved, Suki grinned, and Tikaani laughed in her lap. Hakoda, Master Pakku, and Toph sat with them. Beyond that, Katara saw the leaders of the different Nations in attendance. Behind them, a sea of Fire Nation citizens gathered.

Aang sat on Katara's other side. As Avatar, he was a special guest of the ceremony. He had given a speech welcoming the Fire Nation to come together harmoniously in this new era. He explained that history was a capricious thing, and that as such, it was never free of dramatic events, intrigue, mystery, or good tidings. He told them that every misdeed merited a hero. With that in mind, he beseeched the crowd before him to look to Zuko in this new period as that hero. He asked them to look at him as a leader worthy of their loyalty after the lies of Gisō. It had been an elegant speech, with just the right amount of Avatar Authority to make them remember it.

Ursa fidgeted beside her, and Katara's eyes ended up on Zuko, who knelt before the Fire Sages. She could tell the ceremony was almost over, and excitement sparked through her veins.

One of the Fire Sages moved behind Zuko, the Fire Lord's emblem in his hands. He raised it up so that everyone could see it. Beyond the glinting metal, Katara saw the sea of people rustle.

"By the Decree of Fire Lord Ozai," the Sage's voice boomed, "By the blood that runs through your veins, the true heir of the Crown, Throne, and Nation…"

The rustling was a surge now. People were moving restlessly, and the excited thrill in Katara's veins ran faster.

"I now crown you, Fire Lord Zuko." The hairpin was applied; the crowd was roaring its approval. Cheers and stamping echoed around the courtyard. Zuko stood.

Lightning launched skyward, blinding Katara and causing everyone in the crowd to scream and jump away in fear. The sun burst fully into view and bathed everything in gold. The silver of the screaming bolts flickered into nothing.

Ursa and Katara were immediately at Zuko's side. He was staring into the crowd, where could be heard a solitary round of slow applause.

She was striding forward, rigid elegance. Twin bands of hair framed her face, and a military bun crowned her head. A beautiful smile lit her face, and smoke curled from her clapping hands.

Ursa was stuttering beside Katara. She took a hesitant step forward, ignoring Zuko's outstretched arm.

"Azula?"