Katara smiled as she looked down, they had finally arrived at the palace of the Fire Lord. While it had only been a few weeks, the journey on Appa had seemed to take forever. She looked over at Aang and Mugi, a smile reaching all the way to her eyes; their son was beautiful, even if he was bald. A small coo came from the bundle in her arms; Kaya was starting to wake-up. No matter how bumpy the flights got, she wouldn't stir, but as soon as they were stable, the baby waterbender would get fussy.
Attendants rushed to help the Ambassadors down and tend to Appa, all of them making sure to bow in respect. A light crimson spread across Katara's face, she would never get used to such attention. The two of them proceeded down the front hall of the palace, Katara lightly rocking Kaya as they walked. Aang looked lovingly at the baby, hoping her eyes would stay as blue as her mother's.
Mugi tugged at his father's hand, wanting to be picked up and held as Kaya.
"Mugi" Katara said, "don't pull at your father. You're seven now, too old to be held like a baby."
He crossed his arms and pouted, a face that always caused his parents to laugh. He looked so much like Aang, Katara couldn't help but remember their times together. She thought back to the time when they weren't yet adults but still beyond children. The war had ended and the two of them had travelled on diplomatic missions all over the world together. And like many still caught in the passions of childhood, they played games, each time the game went further and further. Eventually, Mugi was born.
Katara looked ahead; Zuko and Mai were walking towards them, talking and laughing while Mai held the five year old prince.
"Mommy!" Prince Kozu called when he saw Katara
He started fussing and fidgeting until Lady Mai let him down. The little prince threw his arms around his mother, burying his face in the blue furs of her Water Tribe robes.
"You smell like ice"
"I wonder why," Katara replied
Kozu looked up and giggled, he had always wanted to go visit his Uncle Sokka, but was told he needed to wait a little longer. There was still bad blood between the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes, even after Zuko and Katara's marriage.
Mai walked up to Katara and bowed her head.
"How was your trip Empress?" she asked
"Tiring. Mai, would you take Kaya and have her bathed? Appa licked her."
Taking the small baby into her arms, Mai walked towards the royal bath house, fully aware that the servants watched her with anger filled eyes. They blamed her for the Fire Lord marrying a Waterbender, insisting that she just wasn't able to show him how passionate a lady of the Fire Nation could be. But it wasn't that, not at all. She and Zuko had simply grown up. There had always been affection between them, but as they got older it had changed to friendship, the kind of friendship you don't ruin by getting married.
The same thing had happened between Aang and Katara. Once they really did love each other, but as they grew, it changed; they changed. They knew they would never make each other happy. Aang was the Avatar and would always be there for everyone, except her.