A/N: Hello! Here's my go at some Zutara fluff. They are definitely one of my ships and I was randomly inspired to write this cute fic for them. Reviews are always loved! xx

Katara walked through the bustling streets of the Capital. It was a warm day as it usually was, but not as blistering as it had been the past few. The Fire Nation was notorious for their scalding summers and Katara was no stranger to them, having lived in the nation for a full year now. But today felt different. There was a slight breeze in the air coupled with a charming electricity that made her feel so alive.

It had taken her a moment to adjust to life in the Capital. Now when she went home to the South Pole for a visit with her father or brother, who would usually try to coordinate his visits from Kyoshi Island with Katara's, it felt crazy to pack so much warm clothing. The back and forth could be daunting and draining. But it was definitely all worth it. She smiled, thinking of the reason for her permanence in the Capital: a certain once-banished prince turned Firelord.

The road to their relationship wasn't perfect. It was exactly how it needed to be. Of course, Katara knew she had feelings for Zuko, even before the war had officially ended. Her initial rage for him wasn't fueled by nothing. She blamed it on her passionate nature, but if she were being honest with herself at the time, her annoying attraction to him certainly didn't help.

Once the war had ended, it was clear that they had some sort of unspoken bond with one another. But there were also complications. He had duties as the new Firelord and she had a puppy-eyed Avatar. Aang ended up being more understanding than she thought. When she told him after a few months of dating that her feelings just weren't the same as his, he finally agreed that his number one priority was to rebuild the nations, girlfriend or not. Though, it probably helped that Zuko wasn't in the picture yet.

Then the letters came. Katara looked forward to them every month. Zuko would send messages to all of their friends from around the world updating them on his new policies and endeavors as Firelord. Though he tried his best to communicate with all of them, there seemed to be a larger number of letters arriving to the South Pole for a certain waterbender. Katara opened the letters every time with such an excitement that didn't go unnoticed by her father or Gran-Gran. Sokka tried his best not to mingle with his sister's affections, but even he couldn't help but feel warmed by her unspoken affections for the scarred prince.

Finally, Zuko invited her to the palace for a special summer solstice festival as his honored guest. She set sail for the Fire Nation before she even sent her letter back confirming.

The pair had been together ever since. It took some time for the older generations of fire benders to see their Firelord with a waterbender, but Katara proved herself to be worthy over and over. She never had to prove her worth to Zuko, though. He showed his admiration for her all the time. Sometimes it was reserved, like in a council meeting where he would give her the slightest smile of approval after she would give her political input. Or put an old fire sage in place with a swift waterbending trick.

Sometimes he was loud about it, like when he kissed her in the public square during one of the ceremonial summer solstice dances. The kiss took both of them by surprise, having only kissed once before in the comfort of his palace walls. But she leaned into his embrace and the heat radiating off his lips was too intoxicating to care that commoners and nobles alike had witnessed the private moment. Somehow the irony and balance of it all made her want to kiss him harder. Fire and water do make steam, after all.

And sometimes he was very intimate with his showing of affection. The latest was last night, and the reason she was in the middle of the city. He had broken her mother's necklace. Now, of course one would think this would upset Katara greatly, and if the stone were broken it would be a different story, but it was just the ribbon he had torn and it could be replaced easily. Or so she thought.

Katara browsed through the merchant's display. She had a few guards with her, but nothing extravagant. It was nice that she wasn't super recognized outside the palace. If she were Firelady, that would be a different story. Usually Zuko would accompany her into the city which called for more guards, but he told her he had some duties to attend to.

The merchant asked to see Katara's current necklace to see if he had a ribbon somewhere in the same shade of blue. Katara blushed while showing the kind man.

Last night in the throws of passion, Zuko had burned a hole right through the fabric. It wasn't unlike him to blast a few flames from his fingertips during climax, but he happened to have a hand right around Katara's neck at the time, something neither of them minded, until he saw the charred ribbon in their afterglow. Honestly, Katara thought it was mostly funny. It was Zuko who was more worried about the ribbon. He was the one who insisted she get a replacement.

The merchant looked weary as he told Katara he didn't have any fabric that rivaled her watertribe blue, but Katara told him not to worry. Her necklace would get fixed when it got fixed. Still, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. And naked for that matter. She was always used to having a necklace around her neck. And one with great meaning, too.

When Katara returned to the palace, she tried to find Zuko right away. He wasn't in his chamber though, which was odd. Perhaps his meeting and duties had run longer than she expected.

She turned a corner after the grand hall and was met face to face with Zuko. But he wasn't alone. Next to him was none other than Sokka.

"Sokka!" Katara cried as she ran into her brother's arms. He allowed her to snuggle into his chest for a moment, his toned, tan arms holding her protectively. "Hey little sister," he smiled.

Katara looked at Zuko who smiled sheepishly. "What-what is going on?" she asked. She turned back to Sokka. "What are you doing here?"

Sokka scratched the back of his neck. "Zuko invited us here to celebrate." he said simply.

Katara raised an eyebrow at Zuko. "Celebrate?" she pondered. Then realization hit her. She turned back to her brother. "Us?"

Suddenly, Suki and Toph came out from behind a pillar. Katara let out a squeak of excitement. "Hey Sugar Queen," Toph smirked as Katara wrapped them both up in an embrace. Katara wiped away some pesky tears. She hadn't seen them all in a while. "Zuko, what is going on?" Katara questioned through her beam. Zuko snaked an arm around her waist once she was finished welcoming the other two girls. "What? A Firelord can't hang out with some old friends?"

Once the group was settled in their quarters, Katara and Zuko finally had a moment alone in the throne room. The warm sun was about to set and it shone in golden light through the large windows. Zuko had a large dinner planned for the group later. Katara insisted that she should return to her chambers to prepare for the festivities, but Zuko insisted that she was perfect.

"Come with me," he told her. They had some time before the rest of their friends would join them. Katara already knew where he was taking her. It was his favorite place during the setting sun.

They reached the little oasis in the middle of the palace. The gardens and ponds Zuko and his mother would feed the turtle ducks. A large tree provided much tranquility and it was the season for the firelilies to be in full bloom. Once Katara had moved into the palace permanently, she proposed a notion to name the area "Ursa's Garden", a notion Zuko passed almost immediately.

The garden looked somehow even more beautiful than it already was. Katara blamed it on the golden hour, but there was also something about Zuko's demeanor. He seemed content, but also a little nervous. Katara figured it must be because their friends were back for some time.

"There are more turtle ducks now," Zuko mused. Katara looked at the happy little creatures in the pond.

"We had a plentiful spring" she remarked. Zuko smiled, but shook his head. "It sounds crazy, but I swear more of them have returned since you've been here. They used to be so plentiful when my mom was here, but after she was gone, there were barely any. Now, well, I think there might be even more."

Katara smiled. She loved when he talked about his mother. She knew that's where he got his strength from. And deep down, he knew it too.

Katara looked out at the orange sky. Fire Nation sunsets were not ones to be messed with. She thought the sun setting over the watertribe was beautiful when she was a child. But now, looking out at the vast mixture or oranges, pinks, and yellows, she felt more powerful and at peace than ever. Then she noticed Zuko was no longer in her view. She whipped around to find him. And there he was. Down on one knee.

Katara audibly gasped. She saw it in his eyes. She knew he saw it in hers. She thanked Tui and La that Toph wasn't too nearby to hear her heartbeat out of her chest. Katara felt tears well in her eyes.

"Come on now," she said with a teary laugh. "Get up."

Zuko smiled and shook his head. A tear fell from his scarred side. "Not until you say you'll marry me."

Katara practically laughed out loud. She thought it was so obvious that she wanted to marry Zuko that she almost forgot he needed to propose at some point. Yet there he was, waiting for her answer like a lovesick fool. Words wouldn't come out of her mouth. Instead, she bent down to his level and placed her lips on his. "Yes," she whispered.

Zuko smiled against her lips and placed his hands firmly around her hips. He stood up, taking Katara with him and she melted into his embrace.

"We will still fix your mother's, but maybe this one will do as well," he looked deep into her cerulean eyes. Katara looked at his hands holding a betrothal necklace.

The necklace was a blue sapphire stone lined with delicate rubies on a crimson ribbon. Carved into the stone was the symbol for water with a single flame intertwined into the waves. Katara felt silly for crying again, but she couldn't help it. Zuko fastened the necklace around her neck.

"Now you know why our friends are here to celebrate," he smirked.

Katara's eyes widened and she playfully shoved him. "Zuko!"

She smiled back. "Is it wrong for the Firelady to shove the Firelord?" she asked.

Zuko put his forehead against hers. She could feel the heat radiating off his body as he whispered against her lips, "I wouldn't have it any other way."