Ok, I wrote this FOREVER ago, so bear with me. But I really like this Fic, so I decided to post it because I am avoiding my homework. So read it.
There are some things that you know are going to happen. You can feel it. Others slip by. You don’t realize that things are about to change. Forever. I wish I had had some warning that day.
So I could have said goodbye.
~
“Katara, we’re going to be late!” Zuko yelled from outside my room in the Fire Nation palace. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” I yelled back, slipping on my shoes. “Finally!” he sighed when I came out. He took in my graceful blue dress with white trim. Instead of my usual plain braid, my hair was piled up in an elegant bun, with strands framing my face. “You look gorgeous!” Zuko said, offering me his arm. I took it and smiled as we entered the ballroom. Aang waved at us from his seat at the table, motioning for us to sit by him. “Katara, Zuko, come sit by us!” He yelled, smiling broadly. I sat down next to Toph, who was wearing a beautiful sea green dress that matched her eyes perfectly. “Katara, do I have something in my teeth?” Toph asked, giving me a wide smile. “No, why?” I asked. “Twinkle Toes here has been staring at me for the last five minutes straight. Then you walked in and he started staring at you.” She explained with an evil smirk. I shot her a death glare before turning back to Zuko. “So, how long did it take to get this ready?” I asked. The Fire Lord sighed, adjusting his drooping crown. “A long time.” He grumbled. “I’m surprised it was ready at all. I thought we would have to postpone it. Speaking of which, where’s your brother? I know I invited him.” Zuko complained. “Only because I made you!” I giggled, laughing at the look he gave me. “And your point is…..” He asked. “Oh, lighten up!” I said, elbowing him. That’s when Sokka walked in holding Suki’s hand. “Hey, Sokka!” Aang said cheerily. Sokka squeezed in next to Aang. “How are you, Suki?” I asked across my brother. “Fine.” She said, with a mischievous glint in her bright blue eyes. “So, you’re here with Zuko?” she asked casually. “Yep, he asked me yesterday.” I said proudly. “I’m surprised that Aang and Sokka didn’t make a fuss. And I see that Aang and Toph are here together too!” She sounded surprised. I raised my eyebrow at her. “And you just noticed this?” I asked. Aang and Toph had been getting closer for almost two months now. Oh, well. Some people just aren’t very attentive. I could barely eat the food, even though it smelled delicious. I was excited, wondering if Zuko would ask me to dance. When dinner was finally over, the music began. Sokka stood up and bowed to Suki. “May I have this dance, fair lady?” He said, smiling his silly smile. Suki giggled. “Of course, kind sir.” They spun off, the first couple on the floor. Other’s joined them. Toph smirked and grabbed Aang, dragging him onto the dance floor. “Come on, Twinkle Toes!” she said, laughing. Aang grinned and air bent them off the floor so they were dancing in mid-air. Several people gasped in awe. Zuko glanced at me. I glanced back. “Well, we might as well.” He grumbled, holding his hand out to me. I leaped to my feet, pulling Zuko out. Some people stopped to see who the Fire Lord was dancing with. Aang and Toph still hadn’t come down, and had gotten more than a few stares floating up in the air like they were. I think that my brother had sampled a few of the Fire Nation wines, because he was spinning and twirling and dipping Suki like a rag doll, who was giggling like a little girl. The music changed suddenly, and I felt Zuko pull me closer into position. As we twirled across the floor I realized that Zuko was an incredible dancer. ‘Where did he learn to dance?’ I wondered, staring into his burning golden eyes. “You’re a very good dancer, Katara.” He said without breaking eye contact. “You’re better.” I said, blushing. He spun me in a graceful arc. When he pulled me back we were closer than before. We stopped, lost amid the swirling dancers. The world around us blurred, colors blending. All that mattered was us. I leaned towards him, his golden eyes pulling me in. “Katara, stop.” He whispered suddenly. I blinked, and the world was there again. He slipped off the dance floor, and I followed him. We went out onto the balcony. “I’m sorry, Zuko. We were dancing, and well, I just got carried away.” I said, flushing at my stupidity. “No, Katara. That’s not what I meant.” He said gently. I turned away, going back inside. “Katara, wait!” he said, but I ignored him. Suddenly, he spun me around, bringing me into a kiss. I broke away. “Wait, you do like me?” I asked, confused. “I didn’t want to be in there with all those people. I wanted to tell you alone.” He pulled me back in, and I returned the kiss this time. Suddenly, an uproar came from inside. “Sokka! What are you-” Suki’s voice came from inside. “Aang! Toph! Get down from there and help me!” she yelled. “Uh oh.” Zuko and I said simultaneously. I raced inside, lips still tingling. “Sokka, what did you do?!” I asked as I skidded into the ballroom. Aang was trying to grab Sokka, who was hanging upside down from a chandelier. “How did he get up there?” I asked Suki. “I don’t know I just turned away for a second!” Suki said, looking distraught. “It’s Ok, Suki. We’ll get him down.” I said, trying to soothe her. “Got him!” I heard Aang’s triumphant yell. He was trying to get Sokka onto the ground without dropping him. I ran over to catch him if he fell. Aang landed with a thump, Sokka holding tightly to him. “Hi, Mom!” Sokka said cheerily to me. I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Let’s get him to his room.” I instructed. With Toph on one side and me on the other, we managed to get the boy back to his bed. Suki looked crest-fallen when we said he should probably stay in his room for the rest of the night. She went to her room, shoulders sagging. “Great job, Sokka.” She grumbled. Aang, Toph and I headed back to the ballroom where Zuko was trying to calm everyone down. “No, he is not crazy!” he was telling a group of people. I walked over and pulled him away. “Ok, mister Fire Lord, you need to take a break!” I said. He smiled at me and nodded. We went back out to the balcony. I looked up at the sky, and at the stars sprinkled across it. “Good night.” I whispered, giving Zuko a light kiss on the cheek. I walked back to my chambers feeling happier than I had for quite a while.
~
So I could have said goodbye.
~
“Katara, we’re going to be late!” Zuko yelled from outside my room in the Fire Nation palace. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” I yelled back, slipping on my shoes. “Finally!” he sighed when I came out. He took in my graceful blue dress with white trim. Instead of my usual plain braid, my hair was piled up in an elegant bun, with strands framing my face. “You look gorgeous!” Zuko said, offering me his arm. I took it and smiled as we entered the ballroom. Aang waved at us from his seat at the table, motioning for us to sit by him. “Katara, Zuko, come sit by us!” He yelled, smiling broadly. I sat down next to Toph, who was wearing a beautiful sea green dress that matched her eyes perfectly. “Katara, do I have something in my teeth?” Toph asked, giving me a wide smile. “No, why?” I asked. “Twinkle Toes here has been staring at me for the last five minutes straight. Then you walked in and he started staring at you.” She explained with an evil smirk. I shot her a death glare before turning back to Zuko. “So, how long did it take to get this ready?” I asked. The Fire Lord sighed, adjusting his drooping crown. “A long time.” He grumbled. “I’m surprised it was ready at all. I thought we would have to postpone it. Speaking of which, where’s your brother? I know I invited him.” Zuko complained. “Only because I made you!” I giggled, laughing at the look he gave me. “And your point is…..” He asked. “Oh, lighten up!” I said, elbowing him. That’s when Sokka walked in holding Suki’s hand. “Hey, Sokka!” Aang said cheerily. Sokka squeezed in next to Aang. “How are you, Suki?” I asked across my brother. “Fine.” She said, with a mischievous glint in her bright blue eyes. “So, you’re here with Zuko?” she asked casually. “Yep, he asked me yesterday.” I said proudly. “I’m surprised that Aang and Sokka didn’t make a fuss. And I see that Aang and Toph are here together too!” She sounded surprised. I raised my eyebrow at her. “And you just noticed this?” I asked. Aang and Toph had been getting closer for almost two months now. Oh, well. Some people just aren’t very attentive. I could barely eat the food, even though it smelled delicious. I was excited, wondering if Zuko would ask me to dance. When dinner was finally over, the music began. Sokka stood up and bowed to Suki. “May I have this dance, fair lady?” He said, smiling his silly smile. Suki giggled. “Of course, kind sir.” They spun off, the first couple on the floor. Other’s joined them. Toph smirked and grabbed Aang, dragging him onto the dance floor. “Come on, Twinkle Toes!” she said, laughing. Aang grinned and air bent them off the floor so they were dancing in mid-air. Several people gasped in awe. Zuko glanced at me. I glanced back. “Well, we might as well.” He grumbled, holding his hand out to me. I leaped to my feet, pulling Zuko out. Some people stopped to see who the Fire Lord was dancing with. Aang and Toph still hadn’t come down, and had gotten more than a few stares floating up in the air like they were. I think that my brother had sampled a few of the Fire Nation wines, because he was spinning and twirling and dipping Suki like a rag doll, who was giggling like a little girl. The music changed suddenly, and I felt Zuko pull me closer into position. As we twirled across the floor I realized that Zuko was an incredible dancer. ‘Where did he learn to dance?’ I wondered, staring into his burning golden eyes. “You’re a very good dancer, Katara.” He said without breaking eye contact. “You’re better.” I said, blushing. He spun me in a graceful arc. When he pulled me back we were closer than before. We stopped, lost amid the swirling dancers. The world around us blurred, colors blending. All that mattered was us. I leaned towards him, his golden eyes pulling me in. “Katara, stop.” He whispered suddenly. I blinked, and the world was there again. He slipped off the dance floor, and I followed him. We went out onto the balcony. “I’m sorry, Zuko. We were dancing, and well, I just got carried away.” I said, flushing at my stupidity. “No, Katara. That’s not what I meant.” He said gently. I turned away, going back inside. “Katara, wait!” he said, but I ignored him. Suddenly, he spun me around, bringing me into a kiss. I broke away. “Wait, you do like me?” I asked, confused. “I didn’t want to be in there with all those people. I wanted to tell you alone.” He pulled me back in, and I returned the kiss this time. Suddenly, an uproar came from inside. “Sokka! What are you-” Suki’s voice came from inside. “Aang! Toph! Get down from there and help me!” she yelled. “Uh oh.” Zuko and I said simultaneously. I raced inside, lips still tingling. “Sokka, what did you do?!” I asked as I skidded into the ballroom. Aang was trying to grab Sokka, who was hanging upside down from a chandelier. “How did he get up there?” I asked Suki. “I don’t know I just turned away for a second!” Suki said, looking distraught. “It’s Ok, Suki. We’ll get him down.” I said, trying to soothe her. “Got him!” I heard Aang’s triumphant yell. He was trying to get Sokka onto the ground without dropping him. I ran over to catch him if he fell. Aang landed with a thump, Sokka holding tightly to him. “Hi, Mom!” Sokka said cheerily to me. I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Let’s get him to his room.” I instructed. With Toph on one side and me on the other, we managed to get the boy back to his bed. Suki looked crest-fallen when we said he should probably stay in his room for the rest of the night. She went to her room, shoulders sagging. “Great job, Sokka.” She grumbled. Aang, Toph and I headed back to the ballroom where Zuko was trying to calm everyone down. “No, he is not crazy!” he was telling a group of people. I walked over and pulled him away. “Ok, mister Fire Lord, you need to take a break!” I said. He smiled at me and nodded. We went back out to the balcony. I looked up at the sky, and at the stars sprinkled across it. “Good night.” I whispered, giving Zuko a light kiss on the cheek. I walked back to my chambers feeling happier than I had for quite a while.
~
The next morning Sokka and I were called home. As we prepared to board the ship that would carry us away, Sokka took Suki in his arms. I looked back at Zuko. He gave me a little smile. Acting on instinct I flew down the gangplank into the arms of the Fire Lord. I heard a choking noise come from Sokka, but I didn’t care. When we had all said our goodbyes, (most involving Sokka kissing Suki,) we set sail for home.
~
We ended up staying longer than expected. While we were there, Gran-gran got sick, and we had to stay another month. When we finally got to go back, I had a horrible sense of foreboding. Aang and Toph met us at the dock, but their ‘welcome backs’ were half-hearted. “Aang, what’s wrong?” I asked worriedly. He turned to me. “Zuko-” He stuttered, choking back tears. “What?” I asked, scared to hear the answer. “Katara, Zuko’s dead.” ***
I attended his funeral. He had come down with a horrible bout of igeriolosis. (A/N I just totally made that up. It’s a sickness where your body just kind of shuts down.) I heard all the ‘you poor girl’ and ‘you were very attached to him, weren’t you’ and ‘I’m so sorry’ but I didn’t really hear them. All I could hear was that one phrase. ‘Katara, Zuko’s dead, Zuko’s dead, Zuko’s dead.’ ringing in my ears over and over. I was so sad, but I hadn’t shed a tear. I tried, but my eyes remained dry. One day I accidentally found Zuko’s room. I was walking blindly around the palace, when I just stumbled through a door and found myself in his room. A pair of swords hung on the wall next to a blue mask. There was a tiny package on the red-sheeted bed. On instinct I went over and read the label. ‘To Katara.’ It said. It only said twelve words, and held one object, but that package tore out whatever was left of my broken heart.
‘Katara you little peasant! I think
I’ve fallen in love with you.
I clutched the red and blue object that fell out of the package, and I cried.
~
Sokka and Suki got married a few months later. Aang and Toph followed the next year. Sokka named his children Yue and Koda. Aang and Toph had two children, Ari and Tia. I went to their marriages and helped deliver their babies. They call me Aunty Katara, and I loved my two nieces and two nephews. But whenever Suki kissed Sokka, or Toph kissed Aang, I felt a stab of pain in my chest, the place where my heart used to be. But no longer. It was torn out long ago. Every night before I go to bed, I pull out the thing that is now my most treasured possession. I rub the beautiful carving, a red and blue yin yang. I wonder what we would have named our children, and I tell you that I love you. I haven’t cried in front of anyone since it happened. But every night, holding that little thing that means the world to me, I cry.
We ended up staying longer than expected. While we were there, Gran-gran got sick, and we had to stay another month. When we finally got to go back, I had a horrible sense of foreboding. Aang and Toph met us at the dock, but their ‘welcome backs’ were half-hearted. “Aang, what’s wrong?” I asked worriedly. He turned to me. “Zuko-” He stuttered, choking back tears. “What?” I asked, scared to hear the answer. “Katara, Zuko’s dead.” ***
I attended his funeral. He had come down with a horrible bout of igeriolosis. (A/N I just totally made that up. It’s a sickness where your body just kind of shuts down.) I heard all the ‘you poor girl’ and ‘you were very attached to him, weren’t you’ and ‘I’m so sorry’ but I didn’t really hear them. All I could hear was that one phrase. ‘Katara, Zuko’s dead, Zuko’s dead, Zuko’s dead.’ ringing in my ears over and over. I was so sad, but I hadn’t shed a tear. I tried, but my eyes remained dry. One day I accidentally found Zuko’s room. I was walking blindly around the palace, when I just stumbled through a door and found myself in his room. A pair of swords hung on the wall next to a blue mask. There was a tiny package on the red-sheeted bed. On instinct I went over and read the label. ‘To Katara.’ It said. It only said twelve words, and held one object, but that package tore out whatever was left of my broken heart.
‘Katara you little peasant! I think
I’ve fallen in love with you.
I clutched the red and blue object that fell out of the package, and I cried.
~
Sokka and Suki got married a few months later. Aang and Toph followed the next year. Sokka named his children Yue and Koda. Aang and Toph had two children, Ari and Tia. I went to their marriages and helped deliver their babies. They call me Aunty Katara, and I loved my two nieces and two nephews. But whenever Suki kissed Sokka, or Toph kissed Aang, I felt a stab of pain in my chest, the place where my heart used to be. But no longer. It was torn out long ago. Every night before I go to bed, I pull out the thing that is now my most treasured possession. I rub the beautiful carving, a red and blue yin yang. I wonder what we would have named our children, and I tell you that I love you. I haven’t cried in front of anyone since it happened. But every night, holding that little thing that means the world to me, I cry.
THE END
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