Life at sea was different, once Zuko got over his awful sea sickness, he began to sort of enjoy it, he enjoyed the open sky, and the way the wind swept across the sky, his skin, his hair; soft and pillowy.

Katara loved the sea, when it rained she would squeal, and slide across the deck. When it was sunny she'd lie on the wood and soak in the sun, or stand near the edge and reach for the sprinkle of sea water. When it was night outside sometimes he'd find her there watching the moon.

He missed home, he missed it so much it burned his stomach, he missed his father, Azula, he missed the ground and the flowers, he missed his old instructors, and he missed his people. He missed his people so much.

Banned from the fire nation.

But he had Katara and seeing her so happy, made him happy.

It had been a year and a half, yet still no sign of the avatar, but Zuko had a promising lead in a small patch of swampland, something about water benders in the swamps. Zuko has never heard of water benders apart from the poles.

"Set north!" Zuko shouted, "we will not rest until we find the avatar."

"Or..." Katara came up behind him, hugging his frame, and Zuko loved how she chilled his hot skin, "we could take a small rest and do a little shopping."

You menace. With horror, he watched his crew look towards Katara, and stare at him hopefully.

"Katara," he hissed, "we just restocked."

"Zuko, don't be ridiculous, Uncle is out of tea and I heard of the most beautiful village in the area, Ali knows the way," she waved politely to Ali who looked a little too keen at being mentioned.

If Zuko was in charge of the ship, Katara was their queen. They doted on her words and would sometimes come to her to complain about Zuko.

"You're encouraging them!" He complained.

"We don't have to go Zuko, but it would be nice to take a little break." She wiggled her eyebrows and Zuko knew he lost when he laughed.

She jumped up and kissed him on the cheek, "thank you Zuko!"

He blushed, "of course Katara."

He rolled his eyes at the cheering that commenced, and Katara happily ran through the crowds.

"We did it!" She celebrated.

"Katara is right Prince Zuko," Uncle agreed.

"Do you watch all of our interactions," he turned around, "or just some."

Uncle ignored him, "keeping their spirits high will keep yours as well."

"And Katara's?"

"And Katara's." Uncle agreed, "you two can walk around together, I will finish off any shopping we need to do."

Zuko smiled, "thank you Uncle."

The village must have been closer than Zuko thought, or maybe the ocean was a little eager for them to move on. Zuko found the more excited a certain someone was to get somewhere, the faster they went.

Zuko found his certain someone, seconds away from jumping off the boat onto the sand, he wrapped an arm around her torso, "Katara will you stop it."

"Oh good! Zuko you're here, let's go." She tugged him along.

She was so giddy and full of life, Zuko thinks of her at home, so reserved. Sometimes, when it was just him and her, he thinks it was worth it.

She pulled him a little two hard and Zuko tumbled over his own feet, "calm down!"

"Sorry!" She amended, pulling him faster.

Finally they were in the village, leaving his soldiers behind.

"Katara! I need to tell them what to get." He laughed running along side her.

"Iroh's got it."

The menaces.

The market truly was beautiful, and Zuko could see why Katara wanted to go. Flowers adjourned the walls and vines leapt in the market. Booths were covered in them, and Zuko found himself admiring how well placed they were.

"This looks nicer than our garden." He commented, he turned to face Katara, who suddenly was not there.

"Again?" He muttered.

"Katara!" He shouted, she was gone, and Zuko had been looking for her for ages.

"Out of my way shorty!" He shoved a man aside, "Katara!"

Left and right, then left again he scoured the area for her. Sweat started to drip down his head and his shoes started to stick where they were melting onto the floor. Gross.

"Katara!" He scrambled off to the side, "Katara!"

"Zuko?" He turned around and there she was, sitting on the fountain with little girls braiding her hair, giggling at him.

"Is that him?" One asked pointing in his direction, and Zuko glanced behind him.

"Yes that's him, the dummy," she stuck her tongue out at him.

"He's cute," the other one said, Zuko blushed. "Other than his haircut."

Zuko pouted.

Katara stood up, patting the flowers into her hair, "I know, I've been begging him to grow it out, it used to look so nice when we were younger."

"It still looks nice!" He argued, "and..."

Wait...

"Katara! Where have you been I've been looking everywhere for you." He scowled.

Katara tilted her head softly, "I found these cuties, one had a cut on her leg and now they're braiding my hair."

"Yes... okay that's fine, but you should have told me where you went."

"You should know Zuko I go where I'm needed."

"Boo!"

Zuko screamed and pounced back.

Katara had her hands on her knees laughing at him, yeah you laugh now.

"Not funny Katara," he scowled.

"Oh! Don't be such a sour puss Zukey," she brought out a tunic and a dress, and Zuko deflated.

"We are not leaving here with those."

"Zuko!" She gaped, "they're so nice! Look at that red, and they're matching."

Okay the clothes did look very nice. The buttons were bone and the embroidery rivaled Katara's, who had once designed a dragon hem along his sleeves that curled around in shiny reds and yellows.

"What would we use them for," Zuko challenged.

"Dancing!" She brought the dress to her chest and twirled around, "you know I love to dance."

She was just like his uncle, who probably insinuated the bad shopping habits into her. Those two could walk around a market and come back with enough useless items to sell in their own booth.

He grabbed the dresses, putting them aside, "do you really need it Katara."

"Yes, you would look so handsome in it."

Zuko's face went warm, he sighed. She pumped her fists in the air, and Zuko loved it when Katara knew she won over his will, her arms would come up and she would hug him so softly.

He loved the look she would wear, her hands gladly handing the seller his coins, and Zuko supposed he didn't mind paying for something so elegant.

"Dance with me Zuko," she held her hands out. The sun was setting and music began to play gently against his ears.

He placed his hands against hers, and began to lead, the same steps Katara loved. On the ship he taught her some of his favorite dances, but she always had a heart for one particular step from love amongst the dragons, though Zuko never told her that was where it was from. It was his mother's favorite dance and now it was his favorite dance as well.

"Marry me Katara," he swept her into a dip.

"Zuko," she smiled fondly at him, "we've talked about this."

Zuko frowned deeply and spun her a little harshly, "Zuko!"

"Why won't you marry me." She swooped low to the ground.

"I would love to marry you." She rubbed his face softly, "but I can't."

He stopped dancing, "how many times must I ask before you say yes."

She shook her head, "it's not a matter of how many times, I told you I can't."

"Don't you want to be with me forever?" They were getting older and each day the desire to be together forever only grew for Zuko. He didn't understand, she loved him too, he knows she did, was she to leave him.

"Yes of course," she deflated, "Zuko you know I do, but... it's more complicated than that."

"But..."

"Please, Zuko," she gestured around her, "it's so beautiful, will you please just dance with me."

Zuko nodded coming up to take her arms again, and when she smiled at him, he didn't mind waiting so much.