Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Chapter Four: Threats

Katara grew completely still as she regarded the steward, whose face remained smooth and gentle, as though his suggestion was perfectly understandable and of great benefit to her. She didn't have to observe the guests' faces to know they had wanted this from the start, longed for it with a greed that warped their common sense. She suppressed the mild urge to laugh; the idea of leaving Aang's life was preposterous, more so than offensive. Katara felt both sides of the notion and a morbid, enraged sense of humor took root within her. She wanted to take each adversary by the shoulders and shake them, to ridicule them as openly as she had been subtly mocked. The possibility that she was in shock occurred to her, but she dismissed it, recalling the calm, orderly events preceding the gathering. Not shock, she asserted, dimly aware of the sneer transforming her features. What is it?

Toph regained her composure with comparable finesse. She slammed her feet against the floor, delighting in her ability to deface the Earth Kingdom Palace without concern for the penalties. The floor rocked beneath her in small waves, causing noblemen to fall from their chairs with explanations of bewilderment. Zuko and Mai sat still, well-aware that the Earthbender would split the waves to avoid their discomfort without a second thought. Regardless, Zuko's face was a picture of ill-contained rage; Mai gripped his shoulder to calm him. Sokka was uncharacteristically serious, albeit less graceful when it came to the shifting floor. He alternated between glaring at the steward and glancing nervously at his feet.

Toph, apparently satisfied with the havoc she'd created, smoothed her feet against the floor and the quaking stilled. Noblemen struggled to climb back into their chairs and she noted, dimly, that many of them weren't as spry as they had once been. She shrugged off the sting of guilt, rationalizing that they shared the common goal of caging Katara or removing her from the picture altogether. Feet moved swiftly behind her and she whirled around, eager to face true opposition. The security squad members, well-aware of her skill, paused and looked nervously at Chief Miang. She lifted an arm and strode forward firmly, alone but not without threat. Toph felt her footsteps, tracing every minute tremor they made, but Miang was not Earthbending. She merely took her place directly behind the steward in an obvious statement of protection. The room was still and tense; finally, Zuko stood.

"Your demands are unnecessary and impractical," he said calmly, although he could feel hot rage slowly consuming his common sense. "Guards would only be a hindrance to Lady Katara's safety, given as she'd feel obligated to protect them in dire circumstances. The only guards that would be at her skill level would resemble the Dai Li, and they," he glanced at Miang pointedly, "are disbanded. Also, what power do you have to separate her from Avatar Aang? Surely you aren't going to convince him that it's a good idea." Although he was looking directly at the steward, Zuko saw Katara ease herself into her chair in his peripheral vision. His mind whirled with possibilities, but as each moment drew on, nothing worthwhile occurred to him. Mai startled him by standing.

"I have an idea," she said confidently. Everybody regarded her with mild surprise. It was well-known that Zuko's wife accompanied him to numerous political gatherings, but she didn't speak very often. Her cool, sharp gaze swept the room and many of the noblemen shifted uneasily in their seats. Rin Wai's dark eyes remained narrow and angry. "Lady Katara can live with us for an indefinite period of time. There are plenty of guards in the Fire Nation palace to spare, besides my husband and myself. We can use a guest house or she can live in the palace."

"How would this situation be any different than her living in Ba Sing Se?" the steward asked calmly. There was a brief moment when their eyes met and Mai saw a spark of anger, but he disguised it with concern immediately. "Lady Katara lives in one of the grandest mansions in the city and her acts as a war hero ensure her comfortable lifestyle. She lives in the upper ring – in the Avatar's house, no less. I can't guarantee that her relatives or friends visit often," he looked pointedly at Sokka and Toph, who both felt a tremor of guilt, "but we strive to provide a good life here."

"I'm Lady Katara's close friend," Zuko replied evenly. "I may not be at home whenever I please, but that doesn't mean we would never visit her." Katara was both parts overjoyed and aggravated; the prospect of moving to the Fire Nation capital was tempting, but she disliked being spoken of as if she wasn't present. She made an effort to disguise her excitement, which was quickly overpowering her annoyance. Steward Hei was silent, but the remaining noblemen were abuzz with opinions. Chou Phang was the first to complain; his large face scrunched together, much like the pout of an unhappy infant.

"You can't possibly be saying that the Fire Nation is safer than the Earth Kingdom!" he boomed. "We of the Earth Kingdom have gone through great lengths to make Lady Katara comfortable, and Ba Sing Se is a shining example of a multicultural life! What can she find in the Fire Nation that wouldn't already be here?"

"Companionship, for one," Mai replied simply, and her blasé tone made the large man shake with indignant anger. "And peace for another. Furthermore, Master Phang, you are incorrect on two accounts. Can you give me an example of one time when you, Chou Phang, considered Katara's well-being? Apparently you haven't the time to consider your workers' welfare, so I doubt you have room for her in your mind." Chou Phang sputtered angrily but managed little articulation beyond that. Zuko looked torn between interrupting his snide wife and watching with amusement. He settled for the latter as she continued, "And Ba Sing Se can claim to house people of different ethnicities, but the majority of them are caged in the lower ring. The only ones who live in the upper ring are disgustingly rich, and even then no bending beside Earthbending is tolerated." She glanced at the steward with obvious meaning. "Oh, you may have laws against prejudice, but that doesn't stop the citizens from being hostile to benders. This hasn't become a problem in the Fire Nation, and as a close friend of my husband, Katara would be treated with the respect she deserves. Frankly, I don't know why it didn't occur to me to do this earlier."

"Your wife speaks out of turn!" Chou Phang finally managed to bellow, glaring at Zuko. "Can't you keep her under control?" Mai's eyes narrowed dangerously, but Zuko merely smiled.

"She only speaks the truth," he replied. "And, Master Phang, I value my personal health. Ordering her around would endanger both that and my integrity. There's a fine line between a wife and a servant," he caught Mai's meaningful glance and added, quickly, "though both of them deserve respect."

"Nonetheless, she could use a bit of prudence," Steward Hei interjected smoothly. Before the room could dissolve into chaos, he continued, "But now that you mention it, I think it's a fine idea. Lady Katara is entitled to live wherever she chooses, and if the Fire Nation is that place, let her stay there." Katara watched him warily, but his face offered only gracious consent. "However, I would like you to consider moving between Ba Sing Se and the Fire Nation capital from time to time. Why don't you take some time to think about it while we sort out the boring details?"

"You mean these aren't the boring details?" Toph yawned. She slouched with her hip resting against the table for support. "I can't handle much more political mumbo-jumbo than this." Sokka remained silent, but there was no mistaking the agreement in his rueful grin. All at once the tension of the meeting evaporated. Katara couldn't be more relieved.

"You may write up a plan detailing the times of moving between Ba Sing Se and the Fire Nation if she agrees to it," Mai said firmly, "but she will review it and fully understand the details of it. She mustn't be misled." Katara felt a spark of irritation, but she grudgingly conceded that much of a verbose contract would confuse her at a first glance. Steward Hei smiled and agreed that yes, of course Lady Katara would not be taken advantage of.

"Of course, Avatar Aang must know of this arrangement," he added, once vague frames of the plan had been suggested. "He can't very well come home to find Lady Katara missing, can he? That reminds me, he should be returning soon. A matter of days, I thought."

"Yes," Katara said, feeling that the thought had been directed at her. Her heart swelled at the thought of Aang's return. "Yes, he should be back within the week."

"Excellent. Should you choose to move between the two nations, we'll write up a detailed plan of how it will work. Are you certain you want to relocate to the Fire Nation for the time being?"

"Yes," she said again. "Not to, um, offend you, but I think a change of scenery would do me some good. Not that Ba Sing Se doesn't have its good sides." She felt she should continue, but she couldn't bring any positive aspects of the city to mind. So she merely smiled, content with the thought of leaving. Soon, she would be living in the Fire Nation. Aang would return. It was all fitting together perfectly; the somber, suspicious mood that had plagued her for as long as she could recall was lifting. Sokka glanced worriedly from his sister to Toph, who couldn't return the gesture but shifted with the same unrest.

"This is moving along very smoothly," Steward Hei smiled. "I expected days of negotiations, to be honest. That we needn't deal with much more is certainly a blessing." He gestured briskly to Chief Miang, who nodded to the members of her squad. They came to life like awakened statues, working in pairs to smooth the broken floor tiles and open the grand door. As they worked, he continued to speak. "I think we can conclude today's meeting. It was really only a beginning session to get everybody situated and acquainted with each other. I am hosting a dinner this evening, if you would like to get to know each other more. Thank you all for your time; I know it's hard to come by," his good-natured tone invited a few chuckles. Mai, however, frowned.

"That's all for the day?" she queried. When the noblemen met her with vacant stares, she continued. "I'm sorry. I was just under the impression that there was a reason for inviting our family and close friends. When did you plan on mentioning that?"

"That was to be addressed at our next meeting, actually," Steward Hei replied without missing a beat. His smooth smile had a similar effect on her, Katara noticed; she stiffened in her chair, as if unconsciously bracing herself for a threat. A snake. But Katara was too overcome by joy to consider it further. One of Chief Miang's squad members stood at her side and bowed politely, withdrawing her chair once she stood. Katara took measured steps lest her knee betray her again, but after maintaining a steady stride, she relaxed. Toph and Sokka joined her immediately and they left the room, loitering in the hall for a few minutes as they waited for Zuko and Mai. After a few minutes of making small-talk with noblemen, the Fire Lord and Lady peeled themselves from the bustling room. Zuko looked immensely tired and Mai was scowling. Katara tried to recall a time when the Fire Lady didn't scowl and wasn't surprised when nothing came to mind.

The group left the palace in silence. Once they descended the great stairs, the squad members left them, following Chief Miang in neat twin lines. Sokka, who had been suspiciously silent at the end of the meeting, released a gusty sigh.

"That was tense," he muttered, mopping his brow.

"Really?" Toph's voice was thick with sarcasm. "I myself thought it was a jolly little picnic. I can't wait to see Steward Hei again!"

Katara laughed along with the others, but kept her thoughts to herself. The beginning of the meeting had been tense, surely, and the demand that she accept aid or leave Aang had stunned her. But the promise of living in the Fire Nation and seeing Aang soon overcame her fright easily. They moved through the streets, caught up in complaints and friendly banter. The golden roof of Aang's mansion loomed above the other houses and before they knew it, it was directly before them.

"Something was off," Zuko muttered. "Steward Hei has changed. When Aang and the White Lotus were interviewing him for the job, he was so… well, charismatic. Like he was actually thinking about the peoples' interests. But he's different now and I can't quite place it."

"I hate him," Mai grumped, though Katara suspected the loathing was mostly due to her poor mood. "And that fat one, too. I'll say whatever I like at a meeting."

"You aren't feeling well," Zuko replied. "That's probably part of it." Mai shot him a look then sagged miserably, defeated. Zuko smiled kindly and squeezed her hand.

"Are you sick, Mai?" Katara asked. In the past, her healing only applied to injuries, but as of late she had been considering testing her skills on illness and fatigue. She wasn't absolutely certain if she could cure a sick patient, but she was itching to try. As she pushed the door open, she offered, "I could take a look at you."

"I'm just tired," she conceded. "And a little sore. We were riding on eel hounds for days before we got here, and of course there's the heat." She glanced at Zuko again, accusing but too weary to make it venomous. "Zuko, of course, loves this heat wave because he's a Firebender."

"Sorry." He smirked. "I knew I shouldn't have picked that Firebending gene in the womb."

"Not a gene," Duke's voice came from across the room. The group looked up to behold him, leaning casually against the doorway to the kitchen with an apple in hand. Clearly he had found the pantry. Katara wondered, dismally, if Pipsqueak had emptied their cabinets.

"You're such a pig," Toph groaned. "Since when is it okay to eat other peoples' food? Don't you have any manners?"

"That's rich, coming from the girl who messed up the floor just this morning," Sokka quipped. "Talk about good guests. We're all freeloading at Aang's house anyway." Toph glared in his general direction while the others laughed. Zuko looked pointedly at Duke, clearly confused.

"You said 'not a gene,'" he said. "What did you mean, exactly?"

"Nothing much," Duke replied idly, although his smirk suggested otherwise. "Nothing I can prove yet, anyway. It's only a hunch."

"A hunch he hounded me across the country for," Toph grumbled. "Just because you're a brain doesn't mean you're above the rest of us."

"I went to school," Duke explained, more for the group's benefit than Toph's. "And I never said I was better than anybody. You came up with that standard all by yourself. I'm flattered." Toph fumed but he ignored her completely, instead focusing on the others. "So, how did the meeting go? You guys are back pretty early. From the note, I expected you would be gone much longer."

"Mai helped us come to a speedy conclusion," Zuko replied. His tentative smile suggested amusement at Duke and Toph's banter. "But there's a dinner tonight we're expected to attend."

"We have to?" Toph groaned. "I thought it was only a suggestion!"

"These things are never friendly suggestions," Mai corrected her. She winced, pressing the heel of her hand to her back. "Ugh. I'm going to lie down for a while." Her voice and expression were bitter, as if admitting to weakness shamed her. She moved into the main room and looked around uncertainly.

"I'll show you two where you're staying," Katara volunteered. She led Mai and Zuko into one of the many halls leaving the main room and up a flight of stairs. The sound of their friends talking faded as they reached the second floor. Katara showed them to one of the many guest rooms which, while ornate and spotless, had clearly never been used. Aang had entertained guests shortly after the war's end, but after it became clear that most visitors could not be trusted, he closed the mansion to all but his best friends. Katara had looked through all the rooms before choosing hers, although it soon became clear that they were all prepared to accommodate royalty. After the first look, she felt as if spending time in the other rooms was none of her concern.

She moved to a room with sliding doors and pushed them open to reveal a spacious room with comfortable mats and low-laying tables. The walls were covered with some kind of paper they made in the Fire Nation, but they had the same thickness as the rest of the building in order to maintain stability. The large bed in the corner seemed out-of-place, but Katara expected they wouldn't mind. Overall, the room was very Fire Nation.

"There are futons in this closet," she said, moving to the corner and patting the door. "There are also towels and robes. Is your luggage at the Earth Kingdom palace?"

"Yes, but we can get that at dinner tonight," Zuko replied. Katara noticed how weary and drawn Mai looked. None of this exhaustion had been noticeable at the meeting, but she suspected it had been well-concealed, not absent.

"Are you sure you don't want me to see if anything is wrong?" she queried. "If nothing else, I could probably ease up some of the soreness." Years of healing had left her with a comprehensive understanding of muscles, tissue, and even a few chi-pathways; certainly she could do something. But Mai shook her head.

"Thank you, but I'll manage. My muscles are just a little stiff, really – it's nothing to get all worked up about." She looked meaningfully at Zuko, who shrugged in return. "A little rest will soothe them."

"That's a miracle in itself," Zuko confided indiscreetly. "She hates being too idle, so her voluntarily taking a nap is strange enough. I don't know what to do with her, sometimes."

"You'll manage," Mai parried. Katara, feeling that she was intruding upon otherwise sweet banter between husband and wife, politely excused herself and retreated to her more obnoxious company. Upon descending the stairs, she was met with a peculiar sight: Toph had recreated the Earth Kingdom in miniature in the living room floor. She was gesturing to places indicated by her feet and pointing at Duke and Pipsqueak. Said perpetrators lounged on the couch, shaking with ill-contained laughter.

"—tell you, I ran across the Earth Kingdom in a few days, and these louts were useless the whole time—"

"Oi," Duke called, his voice cracking with laughter, "I wasn't useless. I read the map. Sorry to be insensitive, but you're, uh, visually impaired…"

Katara allowed a small smile to grace her features. It was entirely genuine; everything was settling neatly, perfectly into place.

Upon some consideration, Katara decided that she may as well attend the dinner. She hardly relished the prospect of spending more time with the noblemen from the meeting – Steward Hei in particular – but, as Mai had said, the event was no mere suggestion. It was a test to measure her political fluency, and while she knew she hadn't much of that to offer, she also considered it a personal challenge to her determination. Although she was delighted by her imminent move to the Fire Nation, Steward Hei's early threat weighed heavily on her mind.

Accept guards or leave Aang's life. How could he have suggested such a thing? The other noblemen's response – or lack thereof – was also a point of concern. Their acceptance of the notion was as much a blow to her as it was a threat. They didn't think her worthy of Aang, which justified the horrid idea. That the majority of the council thought so – and united in this opinion – unnerved Katara.

Her mind drifted amongst many unsettling possibilities. Perhaps she was an unsuitable candidate for some biological reason she had yet to comprehend. Katara fancied herself knowledgeable when it came to the workings of the human body, but her grasp of hereditary details was frail at best. Did her being a Waterbender somehow affect the children she could have? Was it a gene that took precedence over another, such as Airbending? When she was fourteen, thoughts of her and Aang's children would have alarmed her. At nineteen, the idea wasn't discomforting in the least; it seemed right. Katara wanted time to enjoy with Aang, unhampered by children, but she could also see them as a must in her future.

Hadn't Duke said something about bending not being a gene? Then again, he had only said it was a hunch. Katara dismissed the idea as soon as it appeared.

As she dressed for the dinner, Katara considered other possibilities. Perhaps the noblemen didn't think her fitting for Aang based on her background; she was from a tiny village in the Southern Water Tribe with nothing besides herself to offer. There wasn't much wealth to be found in a village of perhaps thirty people. Katara had never thought this a problem and knew Aang felt the same, but in the world of politics, every resource one had was valuable.

Katara tied the sash on her dress and regarded herself levelly in the mirror. In secret celebration of moving to the Fire Nation, she'd selected a dress of dark red, with embroidered autumn leaves scattered across the bottom. She began to work on her hair with quick efficiency. Another thought struck her: how many noblemen were grooming their daughters for the position she had long taken for granted? How many lovely, rich, politically fluent young ladies were preparing themselves to impress the Avatar? Despite herself, Katara was both parts angry and nervous. Usually, she'd no problem being confident in herself. But the knowledge and wealth she lacked, coupled with Steward Hei's proposition, shook her to the core.

She dug through her small supply of jewelry before finding matching pins and pushed them into her hair with practiced ease. She powdered her face a bit and stared at her reflection in the mirror. The girl that stared back was, mercifully, calm and determined. How much pressure would be required for that façade to crumble?

Immediately upon entering the grand hall, Katara wished she hadn't come. This desire was followed by an urge to prove herself to the noblemen – although she didn't know how – and she clung to it, lest she allow her regret to show. Beside her, Mai and Zuko were the picture of composure, dressed in Fire Nation finery and prepared to meet any obstacle presented to them. Zuko was calm and observant, yet friendly; Mai was less approachable, though she was kind where manners were due. She had trained her usual scowl into an apathetic visage, but every so often she would disguise a grimace. Katara suspected her back was still bothering her.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," she confided. Mai shook her head.

"It was a good idea. You're asserting yourself in front of these pompous noblemen. Just don't let them see how nervous you are." The reply, while frank, was a comfort. Katara smiled wanly.

"If you'd like, you could leave a bit early," Zuko suggested. "Stay for an hour or two, then make your apologies and leave. You just need a decent excuse." His eyes flicked unbidden to her left knee. Ashamed, Zuko turned his gaze to his feet. "Sorry," he said.

"It's nothing to apologize for," Katara assured him. "It's a good idea, in any case." Momentarily, she wished Toph had come to share a similar dislike for such events. She shrugged off the regret and checked her resolve. An hour or two was perfectly manageable. Mai noticed her progression from discomfort to determination.

"You can stay with us if you're uncomfortable," she said. "You might have to talk to Steward Hei by yourself a bit, but other than that, you aren't required to be polite to anybody." Her tone suggested that she applied this train of thought, which Katara didn't doubt in the least.

"Thanks, but I'll be fine," she replied. "Like you said, it's only a little while. I can manage." To prove it, she pivoted on her heel and headed toward the dinner table. As she picked delicacies from the assortment, she suppressed the urge to tug on the collar of her dress. The heat in Ba Sing Se was still oppressive; it made her regret the decision to wear a thick, long-sleeved dress. At least her makeup was sparsely applied…

"Lady Katara," a smooth, familiar voice called. Jarred from her musing, Katara turned toward the source of the voice to find Steward Hei approaching. His features were amiable, but she recalled the threat of his proposition at the meeting and regarded him warily. If he noticed her unease, he masked it flawlessly. He eyed the small plate she held and nodded appreciatively. "You prefer our selection of poultry? I must admit my favorite dish is spiced chicken-hawk."

"They're all delicious," she said vaguely, omitting the fact that all poultry tasted the same to her. She smiled tremulously in a vain attempt to match the steward's collected expression. "This is a lovely event. The decorations, the food, the company…" The last bit came out with some difficulty, but she managed to sound genuine. In truth, she longed to speak with the steward so she could feign weariness and leave.

"I want to thank you," she said, "for being so accommodating with Lady Mai's plan. I know it was a very sudden idea, but you were willing to agree to it."

"It's nothing," he said, smiling; something about the expression chilled Katara to the bone. "No doubt we'll have plenty of details to attend to, but they're well worth it. Your safety is our first priority; I'm certain the Fire Lord and Lady can ensure that you are well protected." The statement would have been harmless, if not for the emphasis he placed on 'Fire Lord.' Katara's eyes narrowed at the unspoken implication, but she managed to hold her tongue. The steward saw her ill-restrained anger and his smile widened into a smirk.

"Have you seen the view of the lower rings from the palace? It's exquisite," he offered her his arm, which she took after a moment of hesitation. Refusing the offer would be blatantly rude. As she was led from the main hall, Katara glanced around discreetly, hoping to catch Zuko or Mai's eyes; neither of them noticed her, embroiled in debate with noblemen as they were.

Steward Hei led her through a maze of halls, making casual conversation as they went. Katara did her best to reply in kind, though most of her answers consisted of, "Hmm," or, "Oh, really?" Just as she was growing panicked about her ignorance regarding politics, the steward pushed a door open to reveal a spacious balcony. Releasing his arm, Katara skirted across the balcony to the edge, where she beheld the city of Ba Sing Se by nightfall. Immediately surrounding the palace were thousands of bright lights, indicative of the wealthy citizens who could afford to light their lamps excessively; as she moved her gaze to the distant lights, they grew less in number and intensity. Katara stared down, regretful that a beautiful scene could only reaffirm her grim opinion of Ba Sing Se.

Suddenly, inexplicably, the desire to see Aang consumed her, devouring her happiness at the prospect of leaving Ba Sing Se like a blaze would a dry forest. She gripped the edge of the balcony to conceal her shaking hands and swallowed her tears, only to find her throat perilously tight. She wanted to see him. She wanted to be with him, not only for her selfish reasons, but to help him set the world right.

"You're troubled," Steward Hei observed, to which she inhaled deeply and turned to face him. Her eyes burned and, as a father would, he gripped her shoulder gently. "I understand that you're weary. But rest assured that your safety will always be our first priority."

"You say that," the words burst from her before she could stop them, "but you encourage me to leave Aang's life. And you invite the daughters of noblemen to attend the meeting as if—as if…" She drew in another deep breath to fortify herself. Holding her tongue seemed pointless. "As if you mean to replace me."

For a moment, the steward was utterly still. Then his expression changed, warping to suit his true emotions; he was enraged, whether it be by her comprehension of his true motives or her frazzled state.

"You think yourself so clever," he hissed dangerously. "Lady Katara, born as a peasant but lifted to power by her little romance with the Avatar. You may think yourself in love with him, but how simple would it be to convince people otherwise? You may be just as bad as all the other girls willing to marry him. Or worse, you could be painted as the girl who will do anything to up her status. You're quite close to Fire Lord Zuko – too close, I would say."

"Let me go," Katara spat in an attempt to conceal her fear.

"I think not. Consider this, Lady Katara. You may be the Avatar's sweetheart, but you can't rebuild a nation alone. You're just one woman, and a bender at that. What if every child you have is a Waterbender? You aren't suited for a life of politics either; you look foolish because you can't control your emotions or put two and two together.

"Avatar Aang won't want any other women to bear his children. Oh, don't look so embarrassed. You would think a girl of nineteen would have some concept of biology. The potential women we have in mind would be wealthy, influential – the sort who could support the Air Nomads as they are reestablished in the world. What do you have to offer?"

"I… I…"

"If you encouraged the Avatar to have a harem, you may be able to remain with him. But how willing would he be to father children with other women with a dark conscience hanging over his head? No, no…" His voice trailed away to a murmur, more to himself than to her. "Better you were removed from the picture altogether."

Katara tried to take a step back, but he held her still in a harsh, bruising grip. Suddenly, their closeness to the edge of the balcony became frightfully clear. Katara felt many things at once: his fingers digging into her shoulder, the weight of the skin of water at her hip, the ache of her knee as it threatened to betray her. Her hands slid into position to command the water, but her eye caught the gleam of steel too late, and it was so fast—

"Steward Hei," an authoritative voice called from the door to the balcony. The steward pulled his arm back and released Katara, who staggered away, heart slamming against her ribs. She capped the skin at her side and fought to control her breathing. They turned to regard the intruder; Zuko stood in the doorway, closely assessing the situation. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "My wife and I must go. It's unfortunate, but I suspect she's still sore from the trip. She won't tell me, of course," this part was rueful. In the silence that followed, Zuko's eyes continued to follow the steward, as if trying to deduce what had transpired. Finally, "We were thinking of getting our baggage and taking Lady Katara with us. That is, if you're done speaking with her."

"Ah, yes," the steward replied, his face once again smooth and innocent. "Certainly. Lady Katara and I were just discussing a few details regarding her move to the Fire Nation," he looked at her pointedly, as if daring her to protest. "These things will be settled at the next meeting, no doubt. Tomorrow night," he said, as if they would forget. "Your luggage is where you left it. Would you like me to escort you?"

"That isn't necessary," Zuko replied. To the untrained eye, he was polite and unsuspecting, but Katara caught his gaze and saw the question in it. Steward Hei's accusations about her relationship with him came to mind and she looked at her feet. Zuko, apparently unperturbed, continued, "It wouldn't do well to make the steward of Ba Sing Se run around like a servant. I'm certain we can find our way by ourselves." He nodded encouragingly to Katara, who joined him as quickly as her knee would allow.

Only when they were a fair distance down the hall did Katara exhale, trembling violently. Zuko, seeing her obvious distress, put a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Katara, shaken by the gesture and freshly aware of peoples' opinion on their relationship, jerked away involuntarily. Zuko fell silent, watching her closely; feeling an utter fool and a poor friend, Katara allowed her repressed tears to flow.

"I'm s-sorry," she croaked. "I don't understand why I'm so—I'm afraid, and I hate it—I wish Aang was here!" She hated her weakness, hated her fervent desire for Aang's presence, but the steward's scathing words shook her, more so than what she suspected had been an attempt on her life. She lifted her hand tentatively to her side, exploring the danger zone of the steward's knife. Much to her relief, her skin was unmarked; even the dress had escaped undamaged. Numbly, Katara thought the steward was a terrible shot at such close proximity. I'm in shock, she acknowledged.

"It's fine," Zuko replied. "What did the steward do to you, Katara? Did he say something?"

"Just…" she trailed off uneasily. What the steward had said carried less of a toll than his actions; the accusation thereof was too dangerous to be spoken. Zuko and Mai would believe her, no doubt, as would her friends. But the other noblemen would surely deny any claim against the steward's integrity. Katara's mind was a whirl of fear and anger as she answered. "He told me what everybody else is thinking. That I should encourage Aang to accept a harem, one made of the wealthy daughters from around the world… Zuko, how can I possibly agree to something like that? How could they be so underhanded, so…" She was furious. "I can't agree. I won't."

"You don't have to," Zuko replied. His calm tone suggested that he'd considered the possibility, perhaps even cemented it in his mind as the truth. "People make the mistake of thinking the Air Nomads can be reestablished in a generation or two. It'll take time, but they will thrive. Eventually."

"Thanks," she said, wiping away her tears, which rolled down her cheeks heavily. That Zuko's words were optimistic – even naïve – went unspoken between them. Katara sighed heavily, considering telling him about the knife, about the attack that had been cut short by his arrival. Instinct and fear advised her otherwise; she would wait for Aang to return and tell him. It grieved her to give him more work in selecting a new steward, but she knew extra work paled in comparison to maintaining her wellbeing.

"Is that all that happened?" Zuko inquired. Katara hesitated before nodding slowly.

"He was so rude," she muttered. "He called me a fool and said I had nothing to offer Aang. And he…" She swallowed, suddenly uncomfortable. A thought came to her unbidden, one of the Ember Island Players reenacting a romance they suspected was between Zuko and herself. "Zuko, you're one of my best friends. But I'm not in love with you." She hoped the statement wasn't as awkward as it felt. She hoped he could hear what she left unspoken: I'm tired of the rest of the world thinking I am.

"Uh," Zuko said, slightly thrown by her frankness, "I feel the same. I didn't even think it needed to be said, honestly. Did Steward Hei imply this? Because I think we both know how stupid the Ember Island Players are."

"He did more than imply," she said. She dropped the conversation and, mercifully, Zuko made no attempt to pursue it. They navigated the maze of halls to find themselves in an untouched guest room. Suitcases waited against one wall; Mai was perched atop one. As Zuko and Katara entered the room, she disguised a grimace and clasped her hands together on her lap.

"Ready?" She stood, taking two suitcases in hand. Sighing, Zuko crossed the room and picked up the other two. Katara offered to take one of Mai's suitcases and was mildly surprised when it was relinquished to her without hesitation. The Fire Lady was exhausted to the point of compliance.

The three refused the assistance of guards on the way to Aang's house, feeling that they were adequately prepared to defend themselves against any threats that may arise. Zuko and Mai were reasonably at ease, but Katara was tense throughout the trip back, flinching at shadows and keeping a tight grip on the water skin at her side. In the silence and dark, she tried to compose herself, but she had good cause to be on edge. Her mind wandered, considering the possibilities of other enemies amongst the noblemen. Surely the steward had not acted alone. There must be others who shared the opinion that Katara was of best use to the world when removed from Aang's life. She summoned to mind a few faces from the meeting, but none stood out in particular, save for Chou Phang, Rin Wai, and Chief Miang. Chou Phang hardly seemed a threat, and while Rin Wai was petty and rude, she seemed to present no true danger. It was Chief Miang who would present a threat, apt as she was in Earthbending.

Katara turned over the thought of telling her friends about the ill-executed attempt on her life. It seemed foolish not to tell somebody, especially since Aang was expected to be back in a few days and the next meeting was tomorrow. The advantages of such a choice were obvious; she had powerful friends who would add to the protection she provided for herself. And yet, the steward had all the other noblemen on his side.

As she considered the pros and cons of the situation, one of the steward's questions came to mind unbidden: How easy would it be to convince people that she was merely after power? Given her track record, the answer should have been 'not easily at all.' However, so many people suspected her of having relations with Zuko. That fact, coupled with a reminder that she was the sweetheart of the most powerful being on the planet, could only serve to hurt her chances of bringing the other noblemen to her side.

So immersed in thought was she that, upon arriving at Aang's mansion, she failed to notice the exclamations from within. She didn't take heed of Zuko's comment or Mai's reply; her thoughts were entirely focused on the problem at hand. Had Katara been her usual, observant self, she may have heard the whirling air above the mansion. As it was, she was oblivious.

They opened the door to a ruckus. Before Katara could comprehend the situation, she was grabbed by Toph and Sokka and forcibly pulled inside. Despite her protests, her friends pulled her up one, two, three flights of stairs. The final stairway led to a spacious, flat segment of roof. Gasping from exertion and the strain on her knee, Katara waved them off feebly. She was mildly surprised when they released her and waited, uncharacteristically patient and silent. Once composed, she regarded them with questions on her lips, but a glance at their knowing, smiling faces told her everything she needed to know. Suddenly she could not run fast enough.

They left her with a promise that they would count to one-hundred before following. Katara climbed up the stairs as fast as her knee would allow; when that wasn't fast enough, she pressed herself despite the pain. There was a moment of frustration as her trembling hands struggled with the latch on the door. She threw it open to a gust of heavy, hot air and bolted out onto the roof.

In the darkness she could hardly make out any details, but he stood clear against Appa's snowy fur, apparently lifting down baggage. The gusts created by their landing had not quite abated, so he didn't hear the door thrown open. Before she could be struck by any changes in him, Katara lunged forward, giving a small cry that may have been his name. She bowled into him with all the force she could muster, pinning him against Appa's side. The sky bison grunted in surprise but remained immobile. As For Aang, he was caught off guard but not displeased. Somehow he managed to twist in her embrace and return it, pressing her to him so tightly it squeezed the air from her lungs.

"You're back early," she wheezed; it seemed the worst thing to say, given everything that needed be said. Her hands shifted from his waist, linking at the back of his neck. Had he grown even taller?

"We flew as fast as we could," he replied. Appa rumbled in agreement. Without a thought for the sky bison's opinion, he dipped his head for a languid, tender kiss. Katara returned his affection twofold. When they parted, Aang's eyes were a deep shade of slate, brimming with an emotion she could not identify. "Spirits, Katara. I've missed you so much."

"I missed you, too," she murmured, pulling him down for another kiss. She would have been content to remain like that until the sun rose, but the count to one-hundred had ended.

"Ugh! Okay, okay, break it up. You might be the Avatar, but that's my little sister. If I have to watch any more, I'm going to throw up!"

"So don't watch," Katara grumbled, provoking a good-natured laugh from Aang. Suddenly the roof was very crowded, or perhaps it was that everybody was trying to hug Aang before Katara had completely let go of him. Voices filled the air, those of excitement, curiosity, amusement, and so much more. Katara found a spot beside Aang who, despite meeting the comments and welcomes of everybody else, never released her hand. Momentarily though it may be, everything was perfect. I will cherish this, Katara resolved. For the time being, she was content.

To be continued…

A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to update, but college is very busy. Updates will most likely be sparse until summer vacation, but rest assured that I'm not abandoning this story.

Once again, I'm sorry for a dull chapter. There is action to come, though I fear my writing style is dull in itself. I had to get the essentials out of the way before anything exciting can happen.

Some of you may think Katara's decision to wait before telling her friends about Steward Hei's assassination attempt was stupid of her. My answer: People make stupid decisions. Perhaps she'll regret it; perhaps it will work out in her favor. If the main characters didn't mess up every so often, there wouldn't be much of a story, I think.

Also, I know the 'harem' idea is not very original. Other fanfiction writers have used it, but that's because… well, it works. When you think about one man fathering an entire nation, a harem seems pretty logical. Please don't come after me with pitchforks for having ideas that aren't very original. This story will try to tie up some of the loose ends left by the third season of AtLA, as have many others before it, so running into the same occurrence in different fanfiction shouldn't be a huge surprise.

Thanks for reading!