#steambaby

If Zuko were to think of his greatest achievements, a few moments came to mind. One was the time he finally beat Uncle Iroh at Pai Sho after a very long four-hour match. He was fairly certain the old man had let him win, but Zuko gladly took the victory anyway. Another was the peace he had helped forge between the four nations (though honestly he credit most of them to the Avatar and the gangs). Still, after the war, he tried his best to mend the Fire Nation’s broken relationships with the rest of the world, while simultaneously uniting his own people so they could finally work as one.

But his most profound accomplishment would always be proving himself worthy of Katara.

In the years since they had married, there were countless of things he could never repay her. His wife was beautiful, yes, but she was more than that. Her mind, her resilience, her patience was what made him fell in love with her. She gave him the grace to grow, taught him how to forgive himself while still taking accountability for his past, and she also play a big role in bridging the gap between the continents as one of the greatest ambassadors the world had ever seen.

Most miraculously of all, she had made him a father. The twin little waterbenders, whom he loved more than life itself.

"You're spacing out," Katara said, her gentle voice pulled him from his thoughts.

She was sitting on top of a wooden fence. The twins had climbed up beside them. Katara and their daughters just couple minutes ago insisted they wanted go out to watch the falling snow, and of course he complied with their request, even when he was still not too used to the southern hemisphere’s cold yet, even after all these time.

Zuko, standing beside his wife, tightened his grip on her waist while rubbing her gently, something that was meant to comfort her.

"That tickles," she chuckled, leaning into him. "Tell me what’s on your mind."

"Just that I’m happy we made it back to the South," he smiled. "Even if it's only for a week."

Katara grinned, probably seeing how his lips shivered, just as one of the twins reached out, grabbing at Zuko's blue coat to balance herself.

"Well, Fire Lord, I saw how that paperwork was beginning to kill you," she teased. "I figured I'd better grant your wish to come here before I regretted it."

“Thank you, my generous Fire Queen." He laughed fondly.

"That is still such a strange title, even after all these years” she said.

"If I could, I'd let you take the title of Lord instead” Zuko looked at her.

"And deal with all your paperwork? No, thank you. I'm perfectly happy doing what I do," she laughed again, and how he would do anything to keep her as happy as she was now.