Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender.

A/N This is it: the end of a saga. I'm trying to close any loose ends that could have been made throughout the story, so this chapter is going to be a little bit longer.

I would like to thank everyone who has stuck around and kept reading despite my sporadic updates and tribulations with life. I'd also like to thank Bryke for making me so spiteful that I wrote a two-part Zutara adventure that basically fixed all the crap they put us through.

So, without further ado, the conclusion of Jagged Edge.

Chapter Twelve: New Beginnings

She sensed him before he made his presence verbally known. Her hands were trailing through the water of the pond- though not disturbing the ducklings swimming in it- as she felt him slowly approach her. His reflection in the water is distorted, but she can see the anguish on his face before she even turns to face him. When he kneels next to her, the only sound is from the rustling of his clothes and the crinkling of the grass beneath him.

"Hey, Princess."

She inwardly sighed at the use of her now-useless title and the emptiness in his voice. Though it could be expected, his distance and distracted attitude. Ever since he and the others returned to the Fire Nation from his girlfriend's funeral, he had holed himself up in his room, only opening his door for his family and Zuko. She hadn't even seen him since the battle in the city, so she knew how broken up he had been over the whole situation.

But she couldn't help but hope for him to be normal and call her by name like he always did before. "Hello, Sokka."

He was silent for a moment, and she could feel him watching her fingers as they stroked the pond.

"When I was a kid, Katara would do this with her bath water all the time," he murmured wistfully, a far off look in his eyes as he reminisced. "She would move the water back and forth as mom washed her hair. It was weird, seeing the water move so unnaturally." His fingers dipped into the water as well and he sighed, "When I teased her about it she would flick it at me, and almost half of her bath water would be on me instead of in the tub. Mom would scold her and then dry me off, but Katara would just giggle. When we were playing in the ocean on Ember Island and she did the same thing to me, Suki laughed so hard... I miss her laugh."

Azula finally turned to face him, frowning at his sad smile. "Are you okay?"

He glanced up at her, his lips pulling down into a frown. He broke their eye contact to stare down at the ducklings approaching him. "Not right now... but I will be, in time."

"It's alright to hurt," Azula replied, taking her hand out of the water and leaning back. "I wouldn't expect you to be fine, even in a while."

"You're right," Sokka stated, causing Azula to arch her eyebrow inquisitively. "It's just... I'm used to losing the ones I love. First my mom, then Yue, now Suki." He looked up to the sky as a breeze passed. Azula followed his gaze and saw the moon lingering, still there from the night before. Though, this time there was still a bright star shining right next to it. Sokka smiled and shrugged. "I guess it just means she's in a better place now."

"She would want you to be happy."

Sokka glanced at her from the side of his eye. "I know, but not yet. I can't be happy yet."

Azula scowled. "You can't base your happiness on whether or not your girlfriend is alive."

Sokka faced her fully, a half-hearted glare on his melancholy face. "I never said I did! I don't think I could let myself, even if I wanted to. It doesn't feel right without her."

She scoffed in return and flippantly waved her hand at him. "Whatever you tell yourself to go to sleep at night. I'm just saying you can't be mopey forever. You'll have to move on at some point in time."

Sokka was silent after her statement, and belatedly Azula wondered if she had been too hard on him. But right as she was about to muster up the courage to apologize- well, in her own way- Sokka spoke again.

"I just wish it wasn't her."

Azula blinked, but remained silent.

His gaze went back towards the sky, where the faded remnants of the moon were starting to disappear in the morning sun's light. "Maybe I'm cursed."

"You're not cursed," she blurted. Sokka looked at her from the side of his eye, as if he was waiting for her to continue. So she did. "People die. Especially during war. It happens. I know it sucks that people that you loved passed on, but you will learn to move on and love again. My doctor told me that holding onto the past just makes the wounds made there hurt even more. If you keep thinking about the bad things that have happened, you won't be able to see the good that are about to."

Sokka snorted and he turned his head fully towards her. "That was pretty wise, Princess."

"His words, not mine," she replied haughtily with a sniff. "What I'm trying to say is, grieve now but eventually you'll need to let it go. You can't hold onto the memory of her forever. You did with the first one, why should it be any different with the second?"

Sokka smiled wryly at her. "Are you trying to cheer me up?"

Azula felt her cheeks warm and she looked away, scowling as she did. "Absolutely not. Your depression is just annoying."

She heard him chuckle and mutter, "Sure thing."

They sat in silence for a little while longer, and Azula felt that wall she always kept up around everyone crumble just a little bit. Wasn't this something Zuko had tried to teach her? Be compassionate and empathetic to others? To help herself heal? Perhaps this is what he meant.

There was always something about Sokka that intrigued her, from the first time she saw him. And now, almost five years later, did she really see how much he had changed and grown. She had, as well, but his was to an extent that she couldn't truly put in words. He had lost so much, that she knew, and yet he was still so strong.

She envied that strength.

Maybe there was something about him that reached out to her, bringing her back to the calmness of sanity. He was the first to do so when they found her in the Earth Kingdom. Perhaps now she could help him like he helped her.

Tentatively, Azula reached over and placed her hand on top of his. She didn't look in his direction but she saw his head snap up and his eyes started to burn holes in the side of her head.

"It'll be okay," she repeated what had been told to her over and over again. "I promise."

Sokka flipped his hand over and squeezed hers softly. "Thank you, Princess."

"Azula," she said just as quietly as she turned to look him in the eyes. "Just Azula, okay?"

For the first time in a while, Azula saw Sokka's genuine smile. And for some reason, it took her breath away.

"Alright, Azula."

"So when are you leaving?"

Aang shrugged and took another sip of his tea. "Once Toph has finished packing and saying her good-byes. We were hoping to leave by sunset but she's been avoiding talking to Sokka before she leaves. They were supposed to go back to her metalbending academy but with everything that's happened, he's decided to go back to the South Pole with his father. So now it's just me and her..."

Zuko sighed and ran his finger along the lip of his cup. "Are you planning on rebuilding the temple? I know you had discussed moving to a more secluded place to train the acolytes."

"I suppose I could," Aang mused as he started pulling the tea out of his cup and weaving it around his fingers. "I think we can move north to where the city is going to be built. I felt a lot of good spiritual energy in that area, so it might be a good spot to roost the new generation of Air Nomads."

Zuko hummed and poured himself another cup. The silence between them stretched on for a few moments, Aang playing with his tea and Zuko drinking his. After a while, he sighed and set his cup down, fed up with the tension between them.

"Aang, look, I wanted to apologize for how I spoke to you on Kyoshi Island," he started as he caught the Avatar's eye. "I had been grieving and my anger about the whole situation was boiling over. For that, I am sorry."

Aang sighed as well and bent his tea back into his cup, then leaned forward as he said, "I accept your apology. But I have come to realize that your anger at me was justified. I had spoken about a tender subject and I said something that I immediately regretted."

Zuko frowned. "Though I feel like you're going to say you weren't wrong in your statement."

The Avatar shrugged and averted his eyes to the fire in the fireplace. "I wasn't going to. I thought about it a lot and I realized that keeping Ozai alive to preserve my own personal belief was damaging in the long run. To you and to your country. Sparing his life was a way to spare my own sanity, but I didn't think about yours. Ozai deserved to die, I know that now. His continued presence in this world has brought nothing but turmoil."

Zuko could see the lack of acceptance in Aang's statement, as if he was begrudgingly reciting a script.

"You don't truly believe that, do you?"

Aang's huff of breath was petulant at worst, frustrated at best. "Not at all. No one deserves to die, no matter what they've done. But I know that Ozai being alive has caused a lot of problems, and as the Avatar I have to set aside what I personally believe in order to keep balance. The world nearly tipped out of balance again because people wanted to put Ozai back on the throne and restart the war. You almost died because of those people. I almost died. My personal beliefs outweighed my duty and we suffered the consequences for it."

Zuko couldn't help but snicker and say, "It's about time you suffered a consequence or two."

The pout on Aang's lips was childish, but it was in good humor. The Avatar chuckled and grabbed his cup of tea once more. "I'll have to learn at some point in time."

A shrug was all Zuko used as his reply. Instead he took another sip of his tea and sank deeper into the couch.

"So I do have a question for you."

Zuko's eyes flickered to Aang. "Hmm? And what's that?"

Aang fidgeted with the cup for a moment before setting it down again and taking a deep, steeling breath. "I talked to Katara..."

Zuko's breath lodged itself in his throat. "Yeah?"

"I basically told her that I let her go," Aang murmured, his eyes drifting back to the fire. "I know she won't love me the way I want her to, and I can't be there and create the life that she wants. She wants stability and freedom... I can't give her that if she's constantly in my shadow and always following what I want to do... I love her, and I always will. But I know there's someone out there that will make her happy in the way she deserves."

Zuko swallowed thickly and blinked heavily as Aang turned his eyes to him and showed him a wistful smile. "It's you."

"Uhh..."

"I know I was angry and accused her of loving you when we were still together," Aang started simply, "but I realized that in doing that I made the mistake of not trusting her and the friendship you two have. I know what something grew between you two while I was gone, but I can assure you that I don't blame you for us breaking up for good." He paused and sniffed, then said genuinely, "I know she truly loves you. And you love her back. What you guys share, it's hard not to see now. There's always been a bond between you two and I think you both purposely pushed it to the side for what you thought was your duty..."

He snorted and shook his head. "I guess I should have taken a cue from you both and put my duty first for once."

"Aang-"

"No, I want you to listen to me," Aang cut in quietly, the wobble in his voice barely distinctive over the crackling of the fire. "I don't want you to apologize. You have no reason to. She is such a wonderful person, and she deserves the whole world."

"I can only hope that I can give that to her," Zuko couldn't help but say. When Aang didn't speak, he continued, "I don't know what happened either, it just flicked on for me like a fire. I've cared about her for a long time, and as we've grown she and I have only gotten closer. It just hit me suddenly... I really didn't mean for anything to happen by it."

"It's hard not to fall in love with her," Aang mused, his lips pulling up at the corners.

"No, it's not," Zuko murmured to himself. His eyes dropped to his empty cup and he smiled. "Are you essentially giving me your blessing to love her?"

"More or less," Aang chuckled. "Though it's not my place. Katara is her own person and can make her own decisions. Had I realized that earlier we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Then I am thankful for your oblivious nature," Zuko quipped with a smirk. Aang met his eyes and they both started laughing, as if nothing had changed between them since before the kidnapping.

Not long after Aang was excusing himself from the room, claiming he needed to tend to Appa before the journey back to Yu Dao. Zuko left not long after and made his way to the training grounds, where he knew a particular earthbender would be burying her feet. He stepped outside and was greeted with the chills of the winter winds, bringing forth the beginning of a new season. He tugged his cape around his shoulders a little tighter, forgoing his normal firebreaths to warm him, and he made his way to the training grounds.

Upon reaching the open courtyard, Zuko spotted Toph and Azula sparring, both dressed in clothes not suitable for the weather but he figured since Azula was using her firebending the arena was already too hot for anything other than a shirt and pants. He was, unfortunately, correct, because when he reached the perimeter of the sparring ring he was already starting to sweat under his heavy cloak and long-sleeved tunic.

Azula was springing off of a pillar Toph erected, soaring into the air and flipping with a stream of blue fire trailing behind her heel. She landed in a crouch, her foot having slammed into the ground where Toph had been standing a millisecond before. The eartbender in question had sank beneath the dirt like it was water, disappearing entirely from view. Azula straightened up, her keen eyes flickering around the arena before pinning themselves on a small divot in the ground.

Right as she raised her arms to attack, Toph sprung out of the ground like a mole and launched her back into the air. Zuko was more than impressed by both of their agility and tact. In fact, based on the destruction throughout the entire arena and the mere temperature of the surrounding area, he was certain they had been going a lot longer than he first assumed.

The moment Azula landed on the ground like a feral cat, Toph whistled and gestured against her throat. "We're done! Sparky's here."

Azula finally acknowledged her brother's presence with a sneer. "I was going to win."

"You keep telling yourself that, babe," Toph taunted as she strutted over to her towel and water skin. Zuko bent over and picked up Azula's, handing it to her wordlessly as she stalked past him and stomped back up to the palace.

"She's getting a lot better," Toph mused, bringing his focus back down to her. "These sparring sessions really help her release her frustrations with everything. Typically she comes to me when she's in a bad mood. We fight for a few hours, then she goes back inside and is totally calm again."

"Are you suggesting I spar with her to help her?" Zuko asked.

Toph shrugged and started making her way up to the palace like Azula had. "Probably. Now that you can bend again I think it would be beneficial for both of you. She's still as skilled as she was when we fought her in the war. But her control is lacking. That's what you have. And you can learn some moves and maybe even how to lightning bend, if she lets you."

"Perhaps."

"You may not realize it, but you guys need each other," Toph commented. Zuko stared down at her, perplexed at her insight, and she elaborated casually, "There's something about her that has changed. Especially since we brought her back here. Before she was unstable and slithery, now she's calmer and warmer. I don't know if it's you, or something else. But she certainly needs someone on her side when she has a rough day. And that should be you."

Zuko sighed, "I suppose you're right. She is very different from who ran away in Hira'a... It almost reminds me of how she was before our father became Fire Lord."

They reached Toph's room and she whirled on her heels, facing him completely. "I'll miss you, Zuko. I'll try to come visit once my school is back up and running."

Zuko grinned and patted her on the head. "I'll look forward to seeing you around. And just a little bit of advice: hang in there. We'll all be okay in a while. I promise."

Toph's smirk was sardonic as she replied, "That's the thing, Sparks: I don't think it ever will be. With who we are and how the world is, we will always live our lives on this jagged edge of peace and war. Sacrifices will be made, victories will be won, and every once in a while it will feel like we have no way to pick ourselves up. But in the end, it will end up good enough to trudge along to the next obstacle. I know I'll be alright, and you'll be alright... Sometimes things need to be a little jagged in order to remind us that we're still here, that we can still feel. There's no use in living like we're dying if there's so much to just live for. And for me, that's enough to get me through these tough times."

A proud curl found itself on Zuko's lips. "Uncle would have been starry eyed if he heard you say that."

Toph shrugged with one shoulder and opened her door. "When you stick around him long enough, it tends to wear on you."

When Sokka heard the three raps on the door, he expected his sister or Aang. However, when he swung it open to reveal a damp-haired Toph, saying he was surprised was an understatement. She had practically disappeared since they left Suki's grave, so having her come to him right before she left the Fire Nation with Aang was a little unexpected.

"Hey, Toph. What's going on?"

She lifted up her arm, revealing a comb in her hand, and she simply said, "Brush my hair for me."

"Uh... sure?"

She pushed past him and made her way over to the couch in front of the fireplace. He followed her in, closing the door behind him and plodding over to the couch where she was already waiting for him, feet off the floor and tucked under her. He frowned when he noticed that. Toph never removed her connection with the earth unless something was wrong or she didn't want to sense the things around her. He hoped it was the latter.

He sat behind her and began tugging out the knots near her waist, slowly pushing the comb through the tresses, and he waited. She would talk when she was ready.

"I'm sorry."

He stilled his hand and immediately replied, "For what?"

"For avoiding you."

Sokka frowned and started combing her hair again. "I didn't know that was deliberate."

Toph turned her head slightly so he could see the side of her face as she replied, "I figured you needed some space, but as I thought more about it I realized you probably needed someone to lean on more than anything, so I'm sorry for not being that person for you when you needed me."

Sokka sighed and he swept her hair off of her shoulder. "I usually say don't assume what I do and don't need, but I can't entirely say you're wrong."

"Huh?"

He patted the top of her head before he smoothed out her strands and started braiding them. "I don't know exactly what I need to cope. I figured going back home with my family would help, so I thought you were mad that I wasn't going to be going back to Yu Dao with you..."

"I'm not."

"I know. You don't get mad that easily."

He saw her eyes soften and her shoulders relax. "Not at you, at least."

He felt himself smile and he undid the braid he just finished to do a different one. "I think what I need is to distract myself... Before, she was busy a lot protecting Zuko so I didn't see her as much as I'd like, but we kept in touch with letters and I'd come see her every once in a while... Now I don't have that... It's hard to figure out what to do with myself."

"You can always write to me," Toph suggested quietly.

His fingers stopped the plaiting and he glanced over her shoulder at her meek face. "Toph, you can't read the letters."

He saw her lips pull into a frown and she huffed, "I was just trying to help."

"I know, and I appreciate it," he replied gently. He ignored the way her cheeks had turned pink and the frown tilted up at the corner into a thoughtful smile. "I think being at home and figuring out my next step will be the best I can do for myself."

"Have you thought about going with Katara on her little journey?"

Sokka tied off her hair with his own leather strap and he tugged on the braid. "She needs to go on her own, just like I do. It wouldn't be beneficial to either of us if I tagged along. She needs to be alone. Just like I do, too."

"But you don't have to be." Toph turned around so her body was facing his. Her frown was deep as she said, "Don't make yourself hurt as punishment."

"I'm not trying to punish myself," he murmured. He saw her fidget and place her foot on the ground to steady herself as he added, "I think I need to distract myself, that's all. I can do that at home with my family while I figure everything else out."

Her frown remained as she stood and said, "Don't dwell on it too much, okay? The world needs you just as much as it needs Zuko and Aang and Katara and me. We need you. I don't want you getting lost to the thought of being alone. You don't have to do that to yourself."

She didn't let him reply as she passed and went to the door. Silently, she opened it and left, leaving him alone on the couch with her comb still in his hand.

Katara had been fidgeting in her spot when Toph emerged from the palace to the stables where Aang and Appa were waiting for her. The air was ripe with the smell of animals and hay, a reminder to Toph of wilderness and freedom. Not that she didn't mind the smell of the palace, but there was only so much of spices and jasmine that she could take without yearning for the smell of dirt.

"Are you sure you don't need me to look at that wound again?"

"No, I'm sure. I don't need you wasting your energy on me."

Toph frowned at Aang's awkward heartbeat, but she couldn't pay it any mind. From the other side of Appa, she had noticed Sokka had started approaching her and she knew he wanted to finish talking about what she had said last night. Unfortunately.

"Hey."

She dug her toe into the ground and took a deep breath. "Hey."

"Are you all ready to go?" he asked, his voice steady and warm. There was still something about the way he spoke, as if he was hesitant and uneasy, but he still sounded as if he was back to normal.

She shrugged and tugged on the strap of her bag. "As ready as I'll ever be. I'm really not looking forward to assessing the damage from the bombs, but I'll have to at some point in time."

Sokka shuffled on his feet and he put his hand on her shoulder. "It'll be fine. With all of the people wanting to join your school, I'm sure a little property damage won't scare them away."

A smirk bloomed on her lips as she replied, "If international terrorists didn't do it, I think you'll be right."

"I'm always right, let's be honest."

"Sure thing."

There was a long pause and she could tell he was looking at her. It made her chest hurt with the knowledge of his pain, regardless of how well he was handling and hiding it. In fact, his heartbeat ached just as much now as it did when they left Kyoshi. She truly hated feeling him like this.

"Before I forget," he started as he dug into his pocket. He took her hand with his free one and made her open her palm. When she was about to ask what he was doing, he placed a small bag in her hand. Her fingers fumbled with it, opening the silky tie and pulling out what had been inside. She narrowed her eyes when she felt the teeth of the comb she had brought into his room the night before, but then her fingers brushed against something else.

"I had some leftover from the necklace I was making for Suki..."

Toph's chest tightened at the sound of her name. That was the first time she had heard him say it since they left her grave.

"I thought you would have liked some of it."

Her lips pulled up at the corners and she pulled out the little earring. Her fingers traced the jagged surface of the stone, and she figured it was a raw gem. Without thinking, she tilted her chin up at him and asked, "Just one?"

She could feel his demeanor drop and he replied quietly, "I only had enough for one... The rest is with Suki."

"Oh."

"But I thought about how I gave you some space metal after I forged my sword," he added quickly, as if to move past the mention of his dead girlfriend, "and I thought you would have liked this, too. Zuko let me have a huge gem from his vault and I knew it would be interesting for you to work with. It's a mineral so it would be manipulated differently than normal earth, so I-"

"Sokka."

She could literally hear his jaw snap shut and she almost laughed.

"I love it. Thank you."

There was a quick sigh of relief. "Good. I figured you would. I thought it would have been a good apology gift for not going with you."

"Sokka, I understand why you aren't," she said simply. She noticed his heart's beating eased a little and it made her smile. "It's not like I need you around all the time. I can always have The Dark One do my paperwork until I can hire someone else to do it full time. You need some time off."

She couldn't see it, but she figured he was smiling when he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug. Her face was pressed up against his chest, surrounding her with his familiar and welcome scent of leather and pipe smoke. She sighed into him and clutched against his back while he propped his chin on the top of her head.

"I'll try to come by before the Spring Festival," he stated. "I can write to Aang and let him know what's going on."

"Alright."

"And don't go making awesome plans for your school without letting me know first," he added with a haughty chuckle. "You know I would have the best ideas for you."

Toph didn't say anything. Instead she pulled out of the hug, a little regretfully, and pushed back the tears that were starting to prickle in her eyes. Sokka patted her on the shoulder one last time before going over to Aang and practically tackling him. Toph felt Katara make her way over in his stead, then her arms were wrapping around her in a warm hug.

She smelled like Zuko.

The earthbender snorted, causing Katara to tug on a loose lock of hair. "What's so funny?"

"Absolutely nothing."

Katara was quiet for a moment, tightening her arms before letting Toph go. "I'll miss you. Don't get into too much trouble."

"You say that like I'm the one who attracts problems, not your new boyfriend."

Katara's heart rate picked up, causing Toph to laugh again. Oh, how she was going to miss messing with those Water Tribe fools. But this wasn't going to be a long term good-bye. She knew they would all be reuniting for sure at the Harmony Summit next summer, so only eight months of being apart wasn't going to kill them. Besides, Katara needed to be off on her own, just like Sokka needed to go home and heal with his family.

Toph figured they were all making the right decisions for themselves.

"Are you ready to go, Toph?"

She sighed and hoisted her bag higher on her shoulder. "As ready as I'll ever be."

With a little help from his airbending, Aang took her hand and launched them both into Appa's saddle. Too soon the air bison was kicking off and soaring into the skies, the sounds of Sokka's and Katara's shouts of farewell quickly getting lost in the wind.

Toph settled against the lip of the saddle and sighed. Off on another adventure...

"Are you alright?"

She immediately shrugged and fiddled with Sokka's gift again. "No... but I don't have the luxury of moping about it. There's nothing I can do about it."

"Toph..." She felt him sit next to her and take her free hand. "You can let it out here, where no one else can see you."

"Shouldn't you be doing the same thing?" she shot back, fighting the onset of tears again as she pulled her hand out of his. "You have no room to talk about letting it out."

Aang sighed and he leaned against the saddle, his shoulder brushing hers, and he said, "I know... but you're right: there's nothing we can do about it. Fate does funny things, and half of the time they aren't the things we want. But we can't change the way of the world. Destiny has a way of revealing itself, once you open your eyes."

"Or feet."

The Avatar snickered and knocked his shoulder into hers. "Or feet. Alright?"

"Alright."

"Let's get home and start rebuilding. Spirits know it's not just the buildings that need some repair."

Silently, Aang stood and went back to Appa's head. With a sigh, Toph trailed her finger over the earring one last time before bringing it up to her earlobe and sliding it into place. As her finger trailed against the rugged surface, a small smile made its way onto her lips. Perhaps there wasn't as much reconstruction needed as she originally thought.

Not too long after Katara and Sokka waved goodbye to Toph and Aang, a servant found them and said that Fire Lord Zuko was desiring Katara's presence.

As she expected, she found Zuko in his study, writing something down on a scroll as his steward hovered over his shoulder. There was agitation clear on his face, yet he did not say a word as he wrote. She entered quietly, despite Zuko authorizing her coming in, and she waited by the chair in front of his desk. Neither men looked up from the scroll and their concentration was almost comical, at least until the steward pointed something out on the page and Zuko glared up at him.

"That's how you spell it, Fuji."

At Katara's giggle, both men snapped their stares at her and she waved sheepishly. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

"Of course not," Zuko dismissed in a warm tone as he stood. He glanced at Fuji and added quickly, "That's enough for now. We will finish this later."

"But, Your Majesty-"

"Later."

Fuji glanced at Katara, his hazel eyes sizing her up before he sighed and gave his Fire Lord a bow. "Of course, Fire Lord. I will return after supper so we can finish."

"Thank you."

Fuki whisked himself away, pardoning himself as he passed Katara and exited the office with speed that rivaled an airbender's. Katara rose her eyebrow at Zuko once the door was closed and smirked. "What word did he think you spelled wrong?"

Zuko sighed and slouched down into his chair. "Your name."

Her cheeks felt a little warm. "My name? What on earth are you writing that is including my name?"

Zuko beckoned her over and she quickly strode to his side. He scooted his chair back and patted his leg - offering her a seat - and her heart quickened. She cleared her throat, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed at the gesture, and awkwardly sat herself down on the edge of his thigh. Zuko gently placed his hands on her hips and hoisted her into a more comfortable position - which made her yelp indignantly - and he pushed the scroll over so she could read it better.

"It's a letter to the mayors in the Fire Nation, and this one over here is to the leaders around the world," he started as he gestured to the other scroll on his desk, voice sounding a little tight and rough. "It's explaining what had happened in the past few months, as well as informing them of the Xi Lang's and New Ozai Society's henceforth persecution by a mandated announcement from the Avatar. We're not going to risk another attack like this, so showing unity in the face of this adversity, as well as making mention of the losses from both sides can show how much the Fire Nation has changed since the war."

The far off look in Zuko's eyes made Katara's heart ache. There were scars for him that will never heal, and the depth of the loss of Suki hurt him more than Katara truly could comprehend. She knew it would take time for him to adjust to the burden, as well as the pain from the past months of torture and fear. For now, all he could do was put on a strong farce for his people and for the other world leaders.

"So why is my name on this?" she asked while peering down at the scroll's words.

Zeko cleared his throat and his hand timidly settled on her waist. "Well, Fuji and I decided to mention the people responsible for freeing me and ending this conflict, so you are listed first along with Aang. Getting the people of the Fire Nation to become aware of your name and your feats will make it easier for them to accept our courtship should we decide to announce it. Well... that is, if you'd have me."

Katara hummed in thought, and Zuko must have seen some conflict on her face because he took her chin and directed her face to be level with his.

"I promise, I won't let the ingrained bias of some of my people come between us," he vowed, his eyes burning with the truth of his words. "There are many changes that are happening around the world, and they will have to accept that the nations are starting to blend. It will be hard, considering the almost fanatical ideals around pure blood in this country, but I am willing to make the first step towards the changes needed in order for my people to move on from the war, including being okay with their Fire Lord marrying the Southern Water Tribe Princess who happens to be a Master Waterbender."

Her gaze darted back and forth between his eyes, finally setting on the forever-squinted left, and she replied, "I believe you."

He smiled, a radiant rarity, and murmured, "I love you."

A warm feeling glowed in her chest and Katara leaned in to kiss him tentatively on the lips. This was the first time they had kissed since their first one in the woods, and the first time he had freely said those words to her without it being in a confession. Never before had her heart reacted when someone said that to her, and it thrilled her knowing that Zuko had this effect on her.

After she pulled away, she grabbed the hand holding her chin and weaved their fingers together. "So what now?"

"What do you mean?"

She smiled and shrugged. "What are we going to do now that there isn't an international terrorist group trying to kill us all? I figured you would go back to ruling like you did before, but..."

A knowing look crossed his face and Zuko said, "You're wondering what you should do."

Katara gave him an unsure nod.

"I'm not expecting you to stay here," he replied simply. She arched her eyebrow in confusion and Zuko grinned as he elaborated, "I was going to suggest that you go back to what you had planned to do before this whole debacle: travel the world, find yourself... Then come back to me like you promised."

Her cheeks felt hot as she said, "I never promised I would come back to you."

His grin grew. "Not out loud, but I knew you were going to."

"I'm sure."

Zuko winked and returned his attention to the scrolls in front of him, his face sobering. "I mean it. If you want to leave, I won't stop you."

Katara's heart fluttered with affection and she cupped his cheek. His eyes met hers once more and she smiled. "Are you sure?"

He nodded and the earnest look in his eyes took her breath away. "I won't keep you from doing what you want with your life. I know you'll come back to me, when you're ready."

She leaned in and kissed him again, capturing his lips with hers as her fingers slid into his loose hair. Like their first kiss, this one exhilarated her all the way down to her toes, giving her a thrill deep in her belly and warming her chest. He hummed into her mouth and wrapped his arms around her waist, turning her so she was facing him completely. Her legs straddled his hips and Katara smiled as his hands held her lovingly.

He broke the kiss too soon, smiling up at her, and he added, "If you keep doing that then I'll change my mind and never let you leave me ever again."

Katara giggled and nuzzled her face against his neck as she hugged him tightly. "I promise I'll come back to you."

Zuko sighed and pressed his cheek against the crown on her head. "I'll hold you to it. If you don't, I'll come find you."

As she sighed and melted into the hug, Katara knew that he wasn't lying. This was Zuko, and no matter what he kept his word.

Katara stared out towards the sea, the reflection of the sun twinkling like diamonds on the distant waves as it rose up over the horizon. Today, she was leaving the Fire Nation with her father and brother to start her journey of self-discovery. Today, she would be leaving Zuko.

She sighed and fiddled with the dagger he gave her - "In case of a bending-less emergency", he insisted. Frankly, she was mostly nervous about going out on her own. She had never been truly alone in her whole life, and now she was willingly going to travel the whole world to discover new things, learn more about herself, gain the experiences she had yearned for as a child... She was thrilled, truly, but it was a daunting thought in general.

"I thought waterbenders avoided sunrises."

Katara turned to see Azula standing by the curtains of the balcony, her face blank but her bright eyes curious.

"As your brother once told me, we rise with the moon," Katara remarked wistfully, "And you firebenders rise with the sun."

"A flare for the dramatic," Azula stated as she approached her and leaned against the rails. "But he's not wrong."

Katara merely shrugged and her thumbs drummed against the handle of the dagger again. "I suppose I'm just anxious. I've never traveled by myself. This will be the first time I've ever really been alone."

"It's good to know how to do it," Azula replied. When Katara met her eyes, she continued, "Being on my own after running away really cleared my head. I think it made me get a sense of clarity and self-awareness I couldn't get in the psycho home or in the palace."

"That's all I can hope for," Katara whispered. She looked back to the rising sun and sighed, "I'm hoping to figure out what my purpose in this world is. All I've known is helping people and following what someone else wanted to do."

"Well, now all you need to do is listen to yourself."

Katara watched Azula's lips curl into a soft smile, the most genuine thing she had ever seen on the Princess's face. It warmed Katara more than she expected, and she smiled in return as they both silently brought their attention to the sun in the east.

"You know, I thought Zuko would have been a lot more messed up after this whole thing, but it seems your presence has really helped him."

That smile on Azula's face grew and she added, "Well, enough where he's not completely freaking out all the time."

"You really think so?"

Azula nodded and picked something off of the rails. "You're good for him. As much Mai loved him, she could never make him happy. But you do. I've never seen him smile so much, even before everything..."

Katara's cheeks warmed and she tucked the dagger into her belt. "I'm glad you approve-"

A short airy laugh left the Princess and she rolled her eyes. "Don't think this makes you special to me."

"I didn't," Katara said with a grin. "I'm just glad someone cares about his happiness."

Azula's eyes shot to hers and she frowned. "Don't you dare tell anyone."

"Cross my heart."

"Good. Because I don't want him getting all sappy on me. It doesn't work for us."

"Clearly."

Azula sniffed and her eyes darted to where Katara had tucked the dagger in her belt. "You know, Uncle Iroh gave that to him almost a decade ago..."

Katara's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really?"

"I'm surprised he still had it. You must be really special if he's giving it to you."

Katara smirked and she couldn't help but reply, "Jealous?"

"Absolutely not," Azula huffed, a small blue flame curling out with her breath. "I'm just stating the fact that you both need to dial down the sappiness. It's disgusting."

"I know you like me," Katara giggled, causing Azula to halfheartedly glare at her, "so don't act like you don't. You said yourself that I'm good for him."

"Doesn't mean I like you."

"Sure thing, Azula." Katara paused, watching Azula's face soften out of the glare and her shoulders to relax. "Besides, I could say you're doing the same thing for Sokka."

Immediately, Azula's cheeks gained a dusting of pink.

Katara smiled and continued, "He's been out and about in the palace, coming to talk to me and having tea with Zuko... It didn't start until after I found him leaving the garden with you."

"He helped me when I was struggling with coming back to the palace," Azula said stiffly. "He's treated me like... like a friend. And not the kind that I want something from or they want something from me... He's genuinely nice to me. And seeing him hurt hurts me, too."

The wind displaced Azula's cropped hair, pushing it around as if it was dancing on her shoulders, and Katara noticed the far off look in the Princess's eyes as she bit her lip and ducked her chin to her chest.

"I suppose being a friend for him is what he needs right now."

"He's got a big heart," Katara commented, noticing the way Azula took a deep breath and her gaze grew fond. "He'd be so happy knowing that you consider him a friend. We all had our misgivings about you from the war, especially him, but we know that you have the potential to be good, just like Zuko did when he first joined us. It was that thought that he volunteered to help you when you got back here."

Azula sniffed again and stood up, her eyes averted from Katara, and she said, "I'll try not to disappoint him."

As she walked back inside, Katara saw a glimpse of the small smile on her lips.

"I'm going to miss you, buddy."

Zuko smiled and squeezed his friend a little tighter before patting him on the back. "You'll be back here in a few months for the Spring Festival, Sokka. It's not like we'll never see each other again."

Sokka pulled away from the hug and shot him a bashful grin as he patted him on the shoulder and walked away. Zuko's eyebrow rose when he headed straight to Azula and started talking to her in a low, intelligible murmur.

"Incredible, isn't it?" a familiar voice said from his side.

Zuko shook his head in disbelief. "If I didn't see it myself, I wouldn't believe it."

"She thinks very highly of him. I'm glad she has found a friend she can rely on."

Zuko smiled at the soft look Azula gave Sokka and decided it was best to give them some privacy. He turned towards Katara and placed his hand between her shoulder blades as he steered her away. "She told me that after you found her, he was the one who kept her company and helped her get readjusted to life here. She's thankful for his friendship."

Katara hummed and wove her fingers between his. "I guess they both need someone to lean on right now."

"I suppose so."

Chuckles vibrated in his chest and Katara glanced up at him with a strange look. Without saying anything, he kissed her on the crown of her head and hugged her a little closer. They reached the dock next to the Fire Nation-style ship they would be using on their journey home. Zuko was pleased to see that Hakoda was speaking with Iroh and Ursa, pleasant smiles on all of their faces.

"...a remarkable thing, don't you think?"

Hakoda's eyes found the young couple and Zuko saw a warm smile stretch on his lips. "Yes, I believe so."

Katara squeezed Zuko's hand and ducked away from his arm to go to her father. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, while Hakoda returned the embrace and tucked her head under his chin. Zuko watched raptly - and a little enviously - as he went to stand by his uncle and mother. A heavy hand was slapped on his shoulder and he turned to see Sokka and Azula had joined them, as well.

"I guess this is it," Sokka said, his voice a little rough and a wobbly smile on his lips, but the most normal he had sounded in weeks. "I'll miss you guys."

Zuko smiled and patted Sokka on the back. He turned to Hakoda and outstretched his hand, which was gladly clasped against Hakoda's forearm in a strong grip.

"We will see each other again," the Chieftain replied, "for these are never permanent farewells."

"Be sure to write," Azula said to Sokka, who smiled at her with a strange fondness that Zuko had only seen on his face a few sparse times.

"Of course."

"You, too, waterbender."

Katara grinned. "I guess I can do that for you."

Zuko met her eyes and suddenly the realization of her departure came crashing down on him. Her standing there, blue eyes glittering with love as they stared back at him, warm smile adorning her slim face, and Zuko lost his breath.

"Chief Hakoda, why don't I walk you up to your ship?" Iroh said from Zuko's side. "I would like to show you the new additions that we added just for the Southern Water Tribe. I'm certain you will enjoy these features tremendously."

Hakoda looked at Iroh strangely for a split second, then he nodded and patted Katara on the head before following Iroh up the gangplank. Ursa snuck around Zuko's back and started leading Azula down the dock towards the carriage that was to take the royal family back to the palace.

Zuko was thankful for their consideration, and right as he was about to start speaking to Katara, Sokka clasped his hand on their shoulders and said in a completely flat tone, "Keep it short, lovers. We have a tide to catch."

Katara groaned and shook her head and Zuko could only glare at his snickering friend as he bounded up the gangplank behind his father. Silence stretched on for a few seconds before Zuko turned back to Katara and smiled at her.

"So, this is it."

She smiled sadly and took his hands in hers. "For now. I'll be back."

Zuko brought their joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "I will miss you terribly."

"I'll miss you, too."

Another kiss. "Write when you can."

"Of course."

A smirk against her skin. "Visit if you want."

"Definitely."

Zuko met her eyes and he pressed one last kiss to her fingers. "I love you."

Her cheeks reddened and she bit her trembling lip. "I love you, too."

Without another word, Zuko pulled her against his chest and held her close, face pressed against her hair and one hand cupping her head while the other was wrapped around her back. Katara clutched his shirt, face nuzzled against his neck, and she sighed. They stood in each others arms for what felt like an eternity, time slowed as they embraced, and Zuko prayed that this moment would never end.

The sound of the ship's horn shook them apart, and Zuko glared up at the offending noise before turning his attention back to the waterbender in his arms. She was giggling, eyes bright and shining as they met his. Despite his irritation, Zuko grinned back at her and leaned down to kiss her soundly on the lips. She sighed against him, melting into his touch, and her hands found his chest once more. Zuko tilted his head to deepen it just enough to satisfy him until she returned, but another blaring blast of the horn made them both jump and break the kiss.

"Oh, come on!"

Katara's giggles echoed all around him and he was pleased to see her like this one last time, smiling brightly and her eyes glittering with mirth. As her laughter died down, she stood on her toes and kissed him on the lips one last time before breaking away and grabbing her bag from the dock.

"Good-bye, Zuko."

As she walked backwards up the gangplank, Zuko took a deep breath and placed his hand over his heart. "I'll be seeing you, Katara."

She returned the gesture, her hand laying delicately over her own heart, and she then blew him a kiss as she reached the deck of the ship and headed towards her brother and father on the bow. Zuko could see Iroh reach out and hug her one last time before descending the gangplank, which was then lifted up and stowed onto the ship as soon as the Dragon of the West stepped onto the dock.

The ship's horn blared one last time before the ship started to move away from the dock and towards the Bay of Sozin. Zuko kept staring up at the ship, where Katara was standing next to her brother and father, all three of them waving as they moved farther and farther away. Zuko's heart ached, but he knew this was only a bittersweet goodbye for now. He would see them again.

When the ship was starting to shrink, Zuko saw a large tendril of water get shot into the air, exploding into thousands of water droplets and icicles that shimmered in the winter sun. His heart flared with love and immediately he gathered his fire into his fist and shot a blaze into the sky, lighting up the entire port with colorful flames that danced like fireworks.

A fitting farewell for his friends.

Too soon, the ship was gone over the horizon, and Zuko was once more alone.

"Let us return to the palace, Fire Lord Zuko," Iroh said from his side. "We have much work to do."

Zuko smiled and slid his hand into his pocket, where he fiddled with the uncut gem inside. He grinned and nodded, then turned on his heel and began following his uncle to the carriage. "Yes, we do."

fin.

A/N Again, I wanted to thank everyone who stuck around for the two long years it took me to write this story. I know it's been a wild ride but I am so glad it is over. I have decided to retire as a fanfiction writer, so this will be the last fanfiction that I will be writing for a long time. I hope you guys enjoy my last hurrah!

With much love, I hope you attend well.

Pearlynn