Yo, my first entry for Zutara Week. I am going to write a story each chapter incorporating the daily theme… BUT I won't have Saturday's AU in here sorry to say it would throw off the story so Saturday will be a story all its own. Watch for the daily updates. The first day is Family July 26 2010. So here goes!

I don't own Avatar TLA or any of their characters, I do however own my own characters :).

Family

The war had ended over a year ago, all of the Gaang had returned to their respective nations for a year of rest and to spend time with their family. Aang was traveling around the Earth Kingdom holding up his part of the peace treaty as avatar he was to making sure that the peace was upheld and that the Fire Nation was holding up their end of the deal. Toph had unwillingly been returned to her parents but only with the understanding that she wouldn't be locked away from the world, she was now a hero to the whole world. Sokka and Katara returned to the Water Tribe for a large celebration, the northern water tribe had sent down many waterbenders to help rebuild the nation, Pakku being their leader. It didn't take them long to rebuild the small capital of the southern pole.

Every male waterbender and even some non benders were hell bent on getting Katara's attention, she would turn 16 only two weeks after the one year anniversary of the war's end and would be eligible to be married. The water nation still believed in Betrothals as well as arranged marriages so Hakoda, who was the official Chief of the southern water tribe, was being hounded by every eligible bachelor in both the northern and southern water tribes for Katara's hand. He was reluctant to make the choice for Katara but with so many suitors vying for her his hand was being forced, luckily he could hold off until her birthday before having to make any official decisions.

Hakoda hated having to tell Katara that she wouldn't be able to wait around for Aang to grow up. The Air Nomads were not adults until they were 18 so she would have had to wait four years before he could ask for her hand. No water tribe male would have willingly waited and many battles would have broken out because she was in such high demand. It was Sokka who sent word to the avatar about the problem and Aang came rushing to the water tribe to argue the point but Hakoda couldn't make an acceptation with Katara, and even if they followed water tribe customs Aang couldn't ask for Katara's hand for another two years. When he argued that he was 113 years old the elders disagreed saying that perhaps he was born 113 years ago but mentally and physically he had been absolutely frozen in time and they could not count the 100 years he was asleep.

Aang cried and part of Katara cried with him, she was disappointed because he had been so loving and sweet, but part of her also knew that what she felt wasn't a romantic love but a strong friendship or even a sibling love. She comforted Aang but also tried to get him to think logically. He needed to bring the Air Nomads back, he would need to spend his time searching for descendents of Air Nomads and though she hated to say it he would need to most likely take more than one wife. It was actually one of the customs of they usually had multiple wives or no wife at all. All the children would be raised together regardless of who their parents were. Katara couldn't stand to be only one of many wives plus her culture didn't allow such arrangements, no father would willingly let their water tribe daughter into that situation.

Aang sighed and reluctantly accepted what he had been told, he soon left to return to his assigned missions, to oversee that the peace agreement was upheld and to search for more air nation. Things were not meant to be the stars were against him and Katara being together first the fortune teller lied to him, then the guru told him he had to let Katara go and now her tribe culture was against them being together.

Katara stood on the prow of the ship watching as the Fire Nation Capital port came into view. It had been a year since she had stepped foot on these lands and part of her didn't want to return. Another part of her was excited because being here would put off her betrothal for an additional two weeks. The Fire Nation was holding a month long celebration for the year anniversary of the end of the war. She would celebrate her birthday in the Fire Nation and this would earn her an additional two weeks of freedom. Her eyes searched the dock for familiar faces and soon landed on Zuko and Iroh. She waved and hollered and soon the two fire nation royalty were returning the wave, though Iroh was more enthusiastic about the returned wave. As soon as the ship docked she rushed off, down the gangplank and strait into the open arms of Iroh.

"Uncle Iroh!" she shrieked as she wrapped her arms around his now thin waist and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She knew it was probably improper to be hugging him but all of the Gaang had gotten close to the older man after the end of the war. "My Katara you have grown into such a beautiful woman over the past year"

She growled and slowly removed herself from his embrace "So I have been told, over and over and over again"

Both Iroh and Zuko seemed confused about this comment but brushed it off. When Sokka and Hakoda came down the gangplank Iroh turned to greet them while Katara turned her attention to Zuko. "Hey Zuko, how have you been this past year?"

He sighed and shook his head "You don't want to know, it has not been fun dealing with an angry Earth Kingdom and a over stretched fire nation. Plus the Fire Sages and the Nobles have been on my back to find a wife and produce an heir. That wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't so much paperwork to deal with, I feel like I never move from behind a desk, after spending three years searching for Aang then an additional year chasing him I'm getting a little stir crazy."

Katara laughed and nodded reaching out and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder "Trust me I know what you mean, I spent a year running from you and learning all the skills as a master waterbender now I am being pressured by every male waterbender in the world to marry them as soon as I turn sixteen and that is only two weeks away. They are all northern water tribe and I can almost guarantee that they will want a docile trophy house wife who never leaves home. I don't think I can survive a life like that without going crazy"

Zuko seemed a bit startled that Katara and him had similar problems in the marriage department but he tucked that away for a later time when he noticed Sokka and Hakoda approaching he gave a polite bow. "Chief Hakoda, it is good to see you again! I hear that the restoration of the southern water tribe is completed, I hope that sometime in the near future I will get a chance to come and visit."

Hakoda smiled and Sokka burst out laughing for no apparent reason, some inside joke or something knowing Sokka. Hakoda reached out grasping Zuko's arm at the elbow in a traditional Warrior handshake, it showed his acceptance of the young Fire Lord and it was an unvoiced show of friendship and acceptance. "You would be welcome to visit our tribe, perhaps we can discuss opening a trading route to pass down our way, we have plenty of water and ice but it is always nice to have a large variety of items that are not available at our home."

Iroh nodded and gave Zuko an encouraging smile before taking Hakoda's attention and moving away. Sokka quickly followed his father, he was next in line to be Chief of the southern tribe so he was interested in any ideas about trade between the fire nation and the water tribe. Zuko was about to say something else when a short shadow seemed to approach the duo, Zuko looked up and gulped when he saw Kanna and Pakku standing only a few feet behind Katara. Neither looked excited to see him and part of him was a bit worried if Pakku was going to hold what happened at the north pole even now. He was shocked when the short older woman stalked up to him and smacked him in the face. "That is for treating an old woman so badly when you attacked the South Pole!"

He blinked for a few moments a bit stunned by what she had done and Katara started putting up a fuss but before he could even truly realize what had just happened she had him in a tight hug "And this is for saving my granddaughter from Azula. I can't thank you enough, even the thought that I might have lost Katara nearly kills me"

Zuko coughed and sputtered until Kanna released him and gave him a warm smile. He heard laughing and looked up at Katara who was giggling and trying to stifle her laughs. He sighed and shook his head then smiled down at Kanna "I am really sorry for my behavior when I attacked the south pole and you, I was a different person back there, my mind was clouded by my father back then."

Kanna nodded and again hugged him "You are forgiven, just remember all the lessons that you have learned since then."

With that Pakku gave Zuko a brisk nod then took Kanna's arm. Iroh also nodded and gave Zuko an encouraging smile before taking Hakoda's attention and moving away. Sokka quickly followed his father, he was next in line to be Chief of the southern tribe so he was interested in any ideas about trade between the fire nation and the water tribe. This left Zuko and Katara alone but no one else seemed to notice but them. She smirked and shrugged. "Well I guess we should make our way to the palace, Toph arrived earlier today and Aang should be flying in on Appa sometime later."

Katara agreed and they started towards the fire palace, along the way they passed through a small market and many of the vendors approached offering the Fire Lord and Katara treats such as fire flakes and spicy chicken on a stick. Katara reluctantly took a few but had to turn down others because she didn't want to become full before the diner she was sure Iroh had planed for the return of the Gaang. Katara found it nice walking with Zuko, they had become close ever since he helped her track down her mother's killer. Thinking of mothers she brought up the subject to Zuko. "Zuko, have you gotten a chance to search for your mother?"

Zuko glanced at her wondering how she got to that question but gave her a bright smile "I didn't have to, once news that I was Fire Lord spread through the four nations she sent word to me. I pardoned her about four months ago and she came home."

Katara turned excitedly to Zuko and gave him a quick hug, butterflies raced through her system at his warmth and that made her curious, she whispered out a rushed "congratulations Zuko" before pulling away and trying to hide her blush. Zuko seemed strangely reluctant to release her but did. "I've told her about all the adventures of the Gaang and she is excited to meet you… all of you"

Zuko had caught his slipup and quickly corrected himself. He had told his mom of all the adventures of the Gaang but many of his stories revolved around his interaction with Katara. She scolded him for the Pirate incident as well as the battle in the north pole. She nearly made his ears bleed when he told her about the crystal caves in the earth kingdom but she was proud of him when he told her about helping track down Katara's mother's killer. Though she didn't approve of revenge she understood and was glad that he helped Katara get the closer she needed to move on. His mother seemed to like Katara and something inside of him seemed to jump for joy at that revelation.

"I would love to meet your mother Zuko, she seems like such a wonderful woman from your stories." The two talked about many things as they made their way back to the palace, mostly about what had been happening the past year and both had to laugh at some of the funny antics that Katara's suitors and the nobles daughters were pulling to get their attention. Before they knew it they were at the Fire Palace and being greeted by a beautiful woman. "Mother"

The beautiful woman smiled and then looked at Katara. "You must be Katara, I've had many wonderful things about you, such a brave young woman who took on the fire nation to save the world."

Katara blushed and bowed her head "I didn't do it alone, but it was something I had to do."

Ursa shook her head and approached Katara placing a hand on her shoulder "You didn't have to do it, there were so many times you could have left and left Aang to someone older but you stuck it out, even when my son pulled some silly stunt."

Katara laughed and nodded "Thank you Lady Ursa."

Ursa smiled and pulled Katara into a brief soft hug then released her. "Welcome to the Fire Nation Princess Katara, I hope this visit will be better than your last"

Katara laughed wanting to correct Ursa calling her a princess, but ever since the North Pole had helped them reconstruct the south pole had adapted the leadership structure of the northern tribe, making Katara a Princess and Sokka a Prince. After Hakoda steps down from his position Sokka would take up the position of Chief, if he couldn't then Katara and her spouse would ascend to the position. "Thank you Lady Ursa, I hope we get a chance to spend more time together while I am here"

Ursa nodded and then turned giving Zuko a brief hug before taking her leave. Katara blushed and looked over at Zuko "Well that was interesting"

He laughed and nodded giving her a crooked smile "Agreed, lets get into the palace before some strange unknown family member pops out of the wood work and starts hugging us again"

Katara laughed and they quickly slipped into the palace together, both blushing and wondering why it felt so good to see their families accepting the other person.

AN

I know there wasn't much romance in this chapter but this whole story will be a ZUTARA so be patient… If you didn't get the Family reference with this one it was each of the FAMILIES accepting and forgiving the other.