Disclaimer: Neither Avatar: the Last Airbender nor its characters belong to me, nor will they ever

Trying something new...hope you like it...

As sight of the Fire Nation Capital broke over the horizon, she reread the letter again:

Katara,

Your presence is requested in the Capital immediately. Please come quickly.

-Zuko

Not "Fire Lord Zuko," not even "Lord Zuko." Just "Zuko." She sighed as she folded the worn paper back up and slipped it into her pocket. It wasn't "Love, Zuko," though, either. She had received the letter last week while staying with her father and had left without hesitation-on the ship that had followed the letter. That is, she had not hesitated until she had been left alone with her own thoughts in her cabin for a whole week.

She should have been a little upset about his presumption that she would come, so he automatically sent a ship, but, surprisingly enough, she wasn't.

It had been...almost a year now since she'd last seen Zuko; she could hardly believe time had passed so quickly...and so painfully at the same time. They had started to become good friends after the war. They had spent years together, rebuilding; she had even sensed the possibility of them becoming something more.

Perhaps that's why she'd left.

But his letter had sounded-even through its brevity and official nature-desperate.

As she stepped ashore in the Fire Nation, she was greeted by a royal entourage. She told the man that greeted her that his presence was not necessary, but he appeared wounded and informed her that the Fire Lord had sent him and his men to her personally. She sighed and accepted, but drew the line at riding in the palanquin he offered.

Much to her surprise, she was taken straight to the throne room, not to a guest room. She wasn't given one moment to recover from her long journey. She was exhausted and sure she looked awful. When she entered, she realized the room was...different than what she remembered it to be. She looked around, taking in the long room, the huge, menacing columns. Then it hit her: the fire usually consuming the walls of the room was out. Instead, many glowing lanterns illuminated the room with soft white light. Zuko stood up on the dais, his back to her. He wore his red, black, and gold royal dress robes and armor; his hair was up, but it was sloppily done, or it hadn't been fixed in a few days. Katara took a deep, steadying breath.

Something was wrong.

"Leave us," he said, his voice soft but commanding. The guards did as instructed, closing the great doors behind them without a word, and left her alone with Zuko.

Katara stepped forward. "Zuko, what was the-"

"Sh!" he hissed sharply.

She was taken aback and furrowed her brow in frustration. What was wrong with him? She did not travel all this way to be "shushed." She stepped closer and noticed he was rocking back and forth on his heel, holding something in his arms.

As she got a better look, she gasped quietly. Swallowing the lump in her throat and ignoring the cracking sound her heart had just made, she forced on a smile and asked with a laugh, "Why Lord Zuko, have you fathered a child in my absence?"

He looked down at her and scowled. "Don't joke, Katara. This is serious," he stated, trying to peek at the apparently sleeping child.

"Who..." She hesitated and stepped up on the dais next to him. "Who's is she?" she asked, noting the child's long, dark hair.

"I don't know," he snapped, still keeping his voice low. "She's not mine!"

Her jaw clenched. "Why did you bring me here?"

He finally looked up at her, his eyes boring into hers. "Because I need your help, Katara. She needs your help."

"Me?" she questioned in disbelief. "How can I-"

"Katara," he said, pulling her back. He leaned over slightly, holding the child back in his arms. Sleepily, her eyes opened-her baby, cerulean eyes. "She's a Waterbender."

Katara gasped as the child's eyes grew wide and she buried her head in Zuko's shoulder and began to cry.

Zuko sighed and began rocking her again. "Now look what you've done."

"What I've done? You-give her to me!"

He shook his head. "I don't think that's a good-"

"You have no idea what's best-"

"I'm telling you..." he warned, but, acquiescing, he attempted to place the crying child in Katara's awaiting arms anyway. The child's grip around Zuko's neck tightened and she began to wail louder.

"What's the matter?"

Zuko took the child back into his arms and began to pat her back; the crying began to calm. "She cries if anyone tries to take her," he said exasperatedly.

"From you?" she questioned in disbelief, finishing his sentence.

"Yes, all right."

"Well, who is she?"

He looked at her, pain evident in her eyes. "I...I believe her mother must have been a prisoner in the Boiling Rock. When...orphanages were set up for Fire Nation children, some children were brought over from there, ones whose parents...anyway, I was called to Ember Island with reports a child was doing 'strange' things. When I got there, the child had a wall of water around her and was blocking all the nurses' attempts to help her, screaming at the top of her lungs."

Katara peered curiously at the girl.

"Somehow, I managed to get her to stop screaming, and when I offered her my hand, she...jumped into my arms."

"And hasn't let go since?" she asked disbelievingly.

"Actually, yes. I returned to the palace and wrote you immediately. You're the only one that can help her."

She ignored the way his soft tone made her heart melt. "I got your letter nearly a week ago. Have you slept?"

He snorted. "Barely; only upright in my throne a few hours a night. A nurse will try to take her, but she just ends up screaming, disturbing the whole household."

She sighed. "I...I don't know what you want me to do."

"Take her," he said, as if the answer were obvious, "teach her, train her."

"Take her? Take her where? I-"

"I meant...I'm asking you to stay here."

"Are you-? I-I can't-"

"Katara!"

She looked up at him, at the determination in his gold eyes, the strength and kindness there.

"What?" she whispered, suddenly feeling very small and weak.

"You can."

She looked at the child and sighed resignedly. "What is her name?"

"The nurses called her Nali."

The girl stirred at the sound of her name.

"Nali?" Katara asked, and she turned her face toward her.

Katara smiled. "Hi," she said.

Nali stuck her thumb in her mouth.

Katara looked around. "Maybe if we could sit...?"

Zuko nodded and led them out of the throne room, to a sitting room filled with plush cushions and lounges. With a snap of his finger, the fire in the fireplace went out. "She does not like fire," he explained.

As they sat, Katara lit small lanterns around the room and asked, "You...you set up the orphanages on Ember Island?"

Zuko looked away and swallowed. "Yes, in my numerous summer homes," he said, a hint of resentment in his voice. "They deserve better, but until I can come up with the resources...what I'd really like to do is find them all homes, but until then, they are getting the best care the crown can afford."

"That was...nice of you," she said sincerely. She watched him quiet the child; the girl relaxed in his strong arms. He had...changed a lot in the seven years since the war had ended. He was stronger, wiser, disciplined. His people sure loved him. "Where did you learn to care for children?"

He shrugged, a haunted look gracing his eyes as he stared at the now-dead fire.

Katara scooted closer to him. "What do you want me to do?" she whispered.

He turned toward her and leaned close, their noses nearly touching. "I...I don't know what to do," he said. "I-I feel responsible. It's my fault her-her parents are dead. I-"

She touched his forearm gently. "I'll do whatever I can."

"Stay here," he practically begged. "I'll provide whatever you need. Then...help me find her family."

Katara could hear the pain in his voice, see the pain on his face. Something about this child had affected Zuko, deeper than she had ever expected.

"Of course."

Zuko nodded, and his face changed. He adjusted the now-sleeping girl in his arms and laid her down on the cushion between them. He sighed, finally freed of her weight. She stirred but did not awaken.

"This is about the first time I've been able to put her down."

Katara stared at his obviously exhausted face. "It's admirable, what you're doing."

He sighed deeply again and reached up to pull loose his top-knot, letting his hair fall around his face. "No, it's not."

"Are you serious? Not many people would do for her what you have done already."

"It's the very least I can do. After everything that's happened."

She looked back at the girl, at Nali.

"I'll show you to your room. Anything you need, you'll have."

She sighed but tried not to appear exasperated. "Thank you."

Neither of them moved.

"You should get some sleep," she suggested, observing his tired shoulders.

He laughed bitterly.

"How have you been able to run your nation with a child in your arms?"

"I haven't," he stated clearly, simply.

Katara was silent. She didn't know what to say and she didn't quite know what she was going to do with...with a small child. She chewed her bottom lip nervously. She may have been considered the mother of their makeshift family, but she was clueless when if came to babies and toddlers and the like. It's not like she'd had little siblings. Changing a diaper with Aang and Sokka and sharing the duties for those few days had been a temporary deal. Sure, they were cute, but anything deeper than that? And how was she expected to train a child? Training a young adult was one thing but a child who may or may not even be potty trained? No, Katara was totally out of her element. And this was an agreement for an indefinite amount of time.

"Come, I'll show you your room. She'll be all right."

They left the sleeping child as Katara followed Zuko across the quiet palace to a spacious, ornately decorated crimson and gold-like everything else in the palace, so it seemed-guest room.

"Is this all right?" he asked. "You've a sitting room, and the bedroom connects through those doors. There's also a private washroom. I've had clothes brought for you, there. And I've made sure your room has access to the courtyard pool, just beyond your veranda."

She swallowed, her eyes trying to take it all in. "More than all right."

"If you need anything else, I'll have a servant woman posted outside your door."

"I'm sure I won't-"

"Just in case."

He was standing closely behind her and she could hear his soft breathing.

"Nali's room is directly across the hall. A nurse will stay with her tonight. And my room is just a few doors down."

She looked up at him, took a deep, sudden breath.

"Rest," she commanded softly.

He smiled slightly, "Yes, Fire Lady."

She laughed, but it was a dry, empty attempt.

"Sleep well," he said, turning to leave her.

"Zuko?" she whispered.

"What?" he asked, back still to her.

"What...what if I can't?"

"You can," he said, looking at her over his armored shoulder. Her heart somehow managed to skip a beat when they made eye contact.

"But what if-"

"You can. I have faith in you. Just have a little faith in yourself." He shut the door behind him.

Katara went to the door, made sure the bolt was securely in place.

"What am I doing here?" she whispered, leaning against the large, dark door and sliding to the floor.

Zuko saw that Nali was safely tucked into a bed far too large for her and left her in the care of an elderly nurse he trusted. When he was finally able to shut his door behind him he nearly collapsed from exhaustion. He did not care about washing or eating; slipping out of his dress robes and armor that was more for show than it was for battle, he fell face-first onto his bed with the plan being to not awaken for at least a good six hours.

Somehow, however, the image of a longhaired girl in blue, water swimming through her fingertips and in her eyes, managed to slip into his mind right as he drifted off to sleep.

The sound of a shrill shriek drove Katara from her bed. Dashing from the silk sheets that had been oddly comforting last night, she sprinted from her room, observing the pink light peeking through the sheer curtains, down the hall to Nali's room, and collided with the Fire Lord himself.

Zuko grabbed hold of her bare shoulders to steady her, and she blushed profusely as she realized that, in her haste, she had forgotten her dressing robe. She turned even redder when she saw his own robe was open, revealing his bare, chiseled chest.

She put her arms out in front of her. "I'm fine."

They entered the girl's room together to find her sobbing into the woman's lap.

"I'm sorry, my lord-" the woman tried, but Zuko raised his hand and her mouth snapped shut.

Nali sat up and made a break for Zuko. He knelt in front of her, holding her by her tiny shoulders at arms length. "Nali, can you listen to me for a moment?"

The girl's crying ceased but tears continued to slip from her eyes. She nodded.

He looked up at Katara. "Nali, this is my friend, Katara. She's going to help take care of you."

The girl's eyes grew wide with fear.

"She's your friend, too. I promise, she is very nice."

Katara smiled as the girl looked up at her fearfully and whimpered.

"If you behave for Katara today, we'll de something special after dinner. Is that all right?"

The girl seemed to consider this agreement, then nodded.

Zuko stood. "Good." He bowed and kissed Nali's tiny, tanned hand, and she fidgeted and blushed shyly. "Now go get dressed."

Nali followed the nurse into an adjoining room and Katara's eyes descended on Zuko.

"What?"

She shook her head, speechless. So much for ruling his nation with a strict, feared, fiery fist. If only his generals could see how tightly this little girl had wrapped him around her little finger.

He scowled and motioned for her to precede him out of the room. He closed the door behind him and turned to escort her back to her room. Suddenly uncomfortable with her lack of clothing, she folded her arms across her chest tightly.

"I suggest you get dressed before you join me for breakfast," he said curtly. He paused and looked away. "If you'd like," he added as an afterthought, as if suddenly aware of his brusqueness. "I'll send one of my secretaries after breakfast with a recommended curriculum for Nali, but feel free to make changes you deem necessary. He will also make sure you are granted everything you need to begin lessons with her as soon as possible."

She nodded and was greatly relieved when they reached her bedroom door. He turned to leave her but, before she even thought about it, she reached out and touched his forearm.

His brow was furrowed when he looked back at her.

She pulled her hand back quickly, as if she'd been burned. Suddenly speechless, she licked her lips and tried not to stare at his bare chest, but found his alluring eyes just as captivating. She swallowed the lump quickly forming in her throat, noticing-seemingly for the first time-how gold his eyes were, especially in the golden light that reflected off the golden surfaces of vases and statues and sconces that lined the hall. His right eye was narrowed slightly, matching the left one marred by the scar that swept back, but his bed-head hair hung in his face and over his forehead and made him look younger, reminded her of their days as youth, preparing for a war they should not have had to fight.

"You-you are very good with her."

He looked away and shrugged.

"I mean it."

"She doesn't speak much-just 'yes' and 'no' so far, really-and she is very shy. She might be hard to reach." He looked at her.

She nodded, suddenly feeling a heavy weight on her shoulders. "I'll do my best."

"I know."

He observed her for a minute more-and Katara felt her face grow red under his gaze-before he tilted his head in an awkward bow and dismissed himself without another word.

Katara slammed her door shut behind her, frustrated beyond words.

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