"Katara, kat... I've been thinking since we're getting married tomorrow, I really like you? I really love being around you and I love how I feel when I'm around you, I think I fell in love with you... you deserve so much better but I would be honored if you'd allow me to take you on a date,"

Zuko looked in the mirror and immediately turned his face into disgust.

"That is the stupidest shit I have ever heard in my life," he gagged running a hand his hair.

"Desperate much? She'll laugh at you!" He told himself outloud as he rolled his eyes annoyed.

"Katara I love you. Kat, I'm in love with you. Hey Katara, I know we're friends that are getting married but be my girlfriend for a day? Stupid! No! Don't say that to people oh my spirits!" Zuko put his face in his face embarrassed to even look at himself in the mirror anymore.

"What a dumb ass I am, yea fall in love with the girl that hated you for the arranger marriage that's a great idea," he scoffed turning away as he saw the panda lily on his night stand that he got for Katara again. She loved the flower, he wanted to see her with it again.

"She's not a prize, don't act like she's some prize you achieved, she's a fucking person dumbass," he covered his eyes shaking his head again.

"Ha ha ha ha, I knew it was gonna happen,"

Zuko jumped and spun around seeing ty lee at the door with a smug look on her face.

"What do you want?" Zuko glared as he blushed brightly.

"You gonna tell her?" Ty Lee asked closing the door behind her and looked to the side seeing the royal robes for the wedding and the princes crown on the other side of the room of Zuko.

Zuko turned away from her and kept quiet.

"I like Katara too, she fit in here better than I expected," she went over to him and leaned against the wall.

"I don't want to talk to you about it, your just going to tell Azula," Zuko sighed going to the window.

"I won't with this, who else are you going to talk to about it?" Ty Lee told him softly.

"Bury my feelings," he offered.

"So you do love her?" She looked at him gently. He stayed quiet again but nodded eventually.

"Wow what a love story," she smiled brightly at him. "She seems good for you,"

"I wanted to take her on a date tonight but I never... I don't want to make her feel like she has too rather than want too," he crossed his arms looking out the window as ty Lee stood by him.

"I get that... you don't want to make a fool of yourself by giving to much and receiving nothing back," the brunette looked at him gently. They made eye contact and he agreed.

"When I was first told about the marriage, I felt like giving up, I didn't care, I didn't want to fight it because I knew I wouldn't win, I gave up for a little because I was finally pushed as far as my father would to be degraded as just a pawn," Zuko explained closing his eyes.

"I felt like I was worth nothing so what's more than having someone forced to marry you? But when I met Katara, she was one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, the passion and fight in her eyes when she first got her was so intimidating I thought she was... she was everything I'm not,"

"I admire her a lot, I really do love her, but I've already accepted that she might not love me the same but we at least can be friends,"

"So then why do you want to ask her on a date?" Ty Lee raised a brow.

"Because I'm stupid and maybe she'll eventually feel the same," he shrugged softly not looking at her.

"You should, you two deserve at least a night out before you'll never be legally single again," she smiled and Zuko pursed his lips.

"Practice on me, say I'm Katara, ask me out," ty Lee bounce over to the bed and crossed her legs.

"That's dumb," he said flatly.

"Your dumb, I'm a great water bender who is never wrong," ty Lee mocked and Zuko rolled his eyes.

"I'm not practicing on you," Zuko waved her off.

"Do it I wanna see how smooth you are!" She cackled.

"No,"

"Please!"

Zuko left his room as ty Lee laughed from the bed and he walked away quickly.

His heart beated quickly against his chest so fast it almost hurt, he felt sick. He was going to be married tomorrow.

He covered his face standing in the hall, hands sliding back to cover his ears, if it was anyone else he was forced to be with his father would've won, he would've won because he was so close to giving up. He squeezed his eyes closed at the thought, he's been degraded and dragged through terrible things so what more was a marriage?

"Zuko?" He heard a kind voice coming towards him.

Soft hands touched his wrists and brought his hands away from his ears, pulled down to his sides. Zuko finally opened his eyes and saw Katara standing in front of him concerned.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Nothing, I'm just in my own head about tomorrow," Zuko told her calmly but she held onto his wrists. He was shaking a little.

"My tribe will be here by morning, and the northern water tribe... our friends and my family will be here so let's... let's just relax," Katara offered kindly with a small smile.

"Sokka and Yue," Zuko gulped.

"Let's go for a walk," Katara finally let go of him but Zuko was close to follow her.

"Are you really worried about tomorrow?" She asked looking over her shoulder at him.

"No, just... black sun is coming just as fast, we only have tomorrow with the tribes to confirm the plan, I want to take advantage of your brother and Yue being here, i want both of them and whoever to know where everything is in the palace, escapes, guards," Zuko explained to her quietly as they were side by side.

"Two months for that, yea..." Katara nodded but they both froze seeing ozai walking towards them. Zuko felt his heart drop seeing his father, he didn't hear them did he? There was no way...

"Prince Zuko, Princess Katara, a word," Ozai told them sternly. It wasn't a request, it was an order. They nodded as they followed the fire lord to the throne room where flames kept the room lit.

Zuko looked at Katara at he touched the corner of his mouth and she nodded knowing it meant to keep quiet. He must've had a plan of what to say and just needed her to play along if she's asked to speak.

Ozai turned to them and they two teenagers knelt to the fire lord without a word needed to be spoken. They stayed kneeling on one knee as they waited.

"Tomorrow You two shall be wedded, the water tribe and fire nation will be allied through you both, I want tomorrow to go smooth with no interruptions, no brides running away or groom to get cold feet, do you understand?" Ozai stood in front of them with a glare.

"Yes father," Zuko understood.

"I don't need you to embarrass me further, you behave tomorrow boy," he looked down at his son.

"Yes sir,"

"If anything is to happen that I have not approved of, I will not be pleased, I will not stand for foolishness, I will make sure if there is it will be taken care of immediately,"

"I hope you do take that as a threat Zuko,"

"I understand father, there is nothing to worry about," Zuko told him calmly keeping his head down.

"The northern water tribe is coming as well, so I need to be careful with the chief and Princess on my land?" Ozai asked.

"No, we'll greet them like any other guest and treat them like allies, they come as the southern tribes sisters, nothing more than support for Katara," Zuko replied in a monotone voice.

"Good, if there is something to happen... well there's a reason I made this wedding in the fire nation," Ozai smiled. He watched them carefully for a reaction, nothing, they stayed calm and didn't look worried for the threats he gave.

"Get out of my sight boy, don't forget your wife,"