ZW16- Put a Ring On It No. 3

03. Memories

Katara didn't like weddings.

Well, maybe that wasn't the right way to put it. She was indifferent to weddings on their own. They were a lot of hassle and overly meticulous planning. Even the so-called 'simple' ceremonies, in her experience, were wrought with schedules slips and petty problems over getting the right napkins on the table, or making sure the bride's headdress had exactly twelve feathers on it.

Granted, she had only been to three weddings in her life, not really enough to make a fair judgement, but those three weddings stuck out well enough in her head that she didn't really have a choice in the end.

The first had been Sokka and Suki's. A short affair on the shore of Kyoshi Island that nevertheless was almost ruined when Sokka attempted to express his love for Suki by riding a giant koi fish all the way to the altar. Unfortunately, he wasn't as good a rider as Aang was, and he took his vows soaking wet, with sand in his mouth and a bruised ego.

Then there had been Ty Lee's wedding. Katara didn't even know why she'd been invited to that one. Sure, they weren't enemies anymore, but she and Ty Lee weren't exactly friends either. That one had gone pretty smoothly, up until Ty Lee's circus troupe started their act in the middle of dinner and almost destroyed the banquet hall. At least everyone else seemed to enjoy the spectacle. Ty Lee wasn't even angry.

But nothing could've been more painful than the third wedding. Five years after she and Aang called it quits for good, she got to sit in the front row and watch him join together in matrimony with the love of his life. Toph had been beautiful, in a long flowing dress for once, with bare feet digging into the mud as she dipped a startled Aang low and planted one on him. Katara had clapped and laughed through her tears, the last she would ever shed for the love she had lost.

Once upon a time, it could've been her up there becoming Aang's wife, but that time had passed. If she was honest with herself, it never would've worked between them anyway. Her time with Aang had been peaceful, a quiet three years after a chaotic coupe of months during which they almost single-handedly ended a war. At first, that calm had been good for her, until the day came when she realized that all there was was calm between them. They never fought about anything, their kisses also soft and gentle without fail. Conversation trailed off after a only a few words spoken. It took them time to realize what the problem was; the peace that Katara enjoyed at the beginning was beginning to suffocate her. It was the same exact thing with them all the time. They just didn't have that fire that the other needed. Aang needed someone like Toph to give him a teasing remark when he needed it, and pull him along down the path when he hesitated.

And Katara needed… well, she needed something, that was for sure.

At least for today, the one thing she needed most was some alone time. That was why she was in the courtyard of the Fire Nation's palace, shaded by the reaching tree branches. Katara closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. She shut away the lingering regret over Aang as she had time and time again. It had faded over time, and someday, she knew, it wouldn't trouble her at all. She couldn't wait for that day to come.

She knew when she wasn't alone anymore. Whoever was coming probably wasn't a servant or child. They'd know better than to disturb one of the Fire Lord's honored guests for anything other than meal time, and dinner wasn't for another few hours. The newcomer sat down next to her, their hand close to brushing hers, and Katara's heart jumped for no reason.

"It's a nice day out," Zuko said.

"Mmm-hmm," Katara nodded.

Once more there was silence, stretching over them like a warm blanket.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

Silence again, longer this time. And thicker. It almost made Katara open her eyes and look at him, but she wasn't ready to yet.

"Mai got married."

Now she did. She looked at Zuko and saw something one could mistake for impassive, but up close, his eyes were dark and heavy.

"When was that?" she asked.

"About a month ago," he said. "I was at the wedding. He's a good man. They work well together. I could tell Mai was happy with him, and I'm glad she is."

"That's good," Katara said, relaxing again. "Real good… sometimes, that's the best you can hope for."

"Yeah, I know."

For the third time, they were quiet, and for the first time, Katara didn't want them to be.

"Zuko…"

His eyes flicked to her. "Yeah?"

But Katara didn't know what to do next. She had to say something, but her tongue was tied up in knots, and no words would come out.

"I just, um… I just…"

"Do you remember that promise we made?"

Katara blinked. "What promise?"

"You know, at your birthday party five years ago, after you and Aang broke up."

Katara mulled over his words, and the answer came to her in a flash. She did remember that. It had been out on the balcony, when everyone else was inside dancing.

**
Katara didn't feel much like drinking tonight. How sad it was that at her own birthday party, she didn't feel like celebrating. The party just didn't feel complete as it was. Everyone she knew and loved was there, with the notable exception of one important person.

Not that she didn't understand Aang's logic that he should stay away this year. Since they'd just resolved to end their romance and go back to a normal friendship, it seemed right for them to have a little space to let everything sink it before they worked on the 'just being friends now' part. That didn't make the hole in her chest any smaller, or less painful.

"Katara? Are you coming back inside?"

It was Zuko, his longer hair blowing in the wind as he stepped out to join her. Katara would have much preferred to be left alone with her thoughts, disheartening as they were, but she moved to give Zuko room anyway.

"I'm just thinking about things," she said.

"About Aang?" Zuko asked.

Katara cursed him under her breath. He always did things like that. How was that he had figured her out so well in just a few years when her own brother still didn't get it a lot of the time?

"I'm over Aang, really," she said.

"I see." He wasn't convinced.

"I mean, you and Mai broke up a few months ago, you get it," she said. "It hurts for a while, and then you get over it. You find someone else. I just have to find someone else, and I'll be fine, right?"

"Maybe." Zuko's eyes became downcast. "At least you get the luxury of waiting for the right person. I have so many councilmen breathing down my neck to get married as soon as possible. I don't know how long I can keep putting it off."

"You'll find a way," Katara said. "You always do."

He smiled at that. They looked out at the horizon. Most other homes were dark at this time, and the stars were breathtaking.

"What if we make a deal," Zuko said after a time.

"A deal?" Katara furrowed her brow. "What kind of deal?"

"Sort of… a marriage pact," he said, looking a little too pleased at her gobsmacked expression. "Not right now, I don't mean. I was just thinking, if neither one of us finds someone else before we're… over thirty let's say, then we'll just get married."

"You and me?" Katara wanted to raise quite a few objections to that, starting with the fact that they were friends and they should both know how badly that sort of thing could end up. There were some more issues to raise, but she was most concerned with that one. That one should have been obvious to Zuko before he opened his mouth.

"I think it would be good," he said. "The council would like it because it would foster better relations with your tribe, and we're already friends, so we know we can get along."

"You're saying, we should just settle down with each other." Katara turned it over in her head, and when he put like that, it didn't sound all that bad. "Assuming one of us doesn't fall in love with someone else first."

"Right," Zuko said. He held out a hand to her. "Only if we're both still alone. Deal?"

Katara appraised him carefully, his tentative smile and the glow around him from the light of the party inside. She cupped her fingers around air, drawn for a moment to Sokka and Suki passing an open window, in each other's arms like they belonged there.

"Okay, deal," she said, and they shook.

**
"Oh yeah," Katara said, shaking her head. "I'd completely forgotten about that."

"It's been a long time," said Zuko.

"And I just turned thirty." Katara played with a long blade of grass until it snapped out of the dirt. "Are you seeing anyone?"

"No one in particular," he said, calmly like it had been rehearsed. "You?"

"Nope." She closed her eyes again. "Nobody seriously since Aang."

"Yeah, me neither," he said. "Since Mai, I mean. Not Aang. Obviously."

Katara giggled into her hand. Some things never changed, even after fourteen years leading a nation.

"I guess that means we should keep our promise," she said.

"Only if you want to."

"It wouldn't be so bad, right?"

"Right," Zuko said. "We're still good friends."

"Yes, we are." Katara would wager they were even closer now than they had been then. "And we trust each other."

"And the council would love it."

"And my dad would love it."

"Your dad likes me?"

"Oh, he thinks you're the best. He loves it when you visit."

She placed her hand over his. It was warm and brimming with strength, just like hers. They sat together, comfortable, but not too comfortable.

"So you think it would work?"

Katara squeezed his fingers lightly, mildly thrilled when he squeezed back.

"What did you think about the meeting yesterday?" she asked. "That guy who tripped and tore his robe half off. That was hilarious."

They spent the rest of the night under the tree until dawn talking. Just talking. Needing nothing to keep the conversation going into the wee hours.

Whatever happened between them from here, Katara knew it was going to be great.