Love Doesn't Come Easy

Chapter 17: Second Anniversary

Mizuki was welcoming all sorts of guests from all the nations. Esen comes running up with Tal in tow. "Esen! Tal! So glad you could come!"

"We didn't really have a choice. Aang would have brought us along anyways. He's grown attached to the new Monks in the Southern Air Temple."

"Really? I'm glad to hear. So uh is Coro or Rengi with you?"

"They have children to take care. Their own!" Esen grinned. "I'm... what now? They have kids?"

"You didn't hear from Aang? Coro and Rengi had a monk traditional wedding. At the end of the year last year they had their first child, Sen." Mizuki smiles. "I'm so happy for them."

"We also.. kind of... started dating." Mizuki looks between Esen and Tal. Tal shrugs like no big deal but Esen looks worried for her reaction. "Should have been sooner honestly. There was something there that even I could see it!" Tal rolled his eyes as the two girls hugged.

"Go enjoy the party. I need to welcome Aang and my friends when they come."

~~~

"AANG!"

"ZUKI!" The two hug. She smiles broadly. "Wow you've really grown! You're not that goofy kid from two years ago."

"Do you always have to mother me?"

"Kind of. I can't help it I love doting on my younger friends. That means you too Sokka! Get in here!" She gives Sokka a noogie and smiles. Sokka grumbles about his hair while Katara and Toph hug Mizuki. "It's good to see you again Mizuki."

"You guys should visit more often. Zuko needs his friends. I can only do so much. Plus~ Sokka could be an ambassador to the Fire Nation."

"Southern Water Tribe Ambassador to the Fire Nation. I like the sound of that!"

"Sokka." Zuko had shown up apparently. He had a smile on his face. One Mizuki loved dearly. Sokka grins, "Buddy! How you doing?" The two hug. Mizuki is practically beaming from the sidelines. "Being Fire Lord does have its perks. I don't have to have anyone really questioning what I'm doing."

"Like the time you hung from the rafters to test out the stability of the wood?" Mizuki mentions. "Or the time you disguised yourself as an assassin and creeped around the palace to test security."

"I-"

"Don't think I as your wife and Fire Lady will not stop questioning you until the day I die. I'll even question you in the afterlife! It's my job."

"Not really-"

"Kinda is." Katara grins. "Your outnumbered on this one buddy but you seriously dressed up as an assassin to test Palace security?"

"Of course!"

"It was funny. I could tell it was him so I couldn't be bothered." They smile at the couple. "Come on. To the party."

~~~

"Seriously! *chomp* Who makes your *chomp* food?"

"Well that would be Chef Honoka who has learned all nations cuisine. He's honestly the best and makes amazing tea. He's also good at Pai Sho and reminds me of Uncle Iroh."

"It's because of the belly isn't it."

"Honoka!" Mizuki grins and gets up to hug the older man. He hugs her back. "How was your trip? Traveling across the Earth Kingdom and all?"

"It was wonderful. There is always an interesting journey to be had in an unfamiliar land." Mizuki grinned. "Honoka, so glad your back well."

"Never been better." Zuko nods with a smile. "Uncle! You made it!"

"Mizuki promised it would be a good celebration. I also brought tea." Mizuki grins broadly. Iroh makes tea and serves it to the guests for free. He smiles to them. Everyone loves his tea. Mizuki smiles at how well everything was going. She stays on the sidelines of the celebration watching everyone have fun.

"You should be partying with everyone." Honoka says to her. She shrugs. "Let them have their fun. I was never a party person unlike Azula and Ty Lee."

"You're eighteen Mizuki. You should have fun."

"Okay." She smiles and goes to find her husband. Instead she finds Sokka and Suki dancing. "Hey guys! Have you seen Zuko?"

"He was talking to Aang a little bit ago by the buffet."

"Thank you." She walks over to the buffet and observes around. "Fire Lady Mizuki!" It's one of the kids from school she went to. "We made this for you." It was a drawing of her and Zuko. "How lovely. Thank you so much." The kid beams before running off to their parents. She smiles fondly. Having kids would be nice. "May I take you to the fountain?" Zuko's smooth voice and strong arms envelop her.

"You may." She gets pulled away from the party by her husband and back to the palace. They go to the courtyard and everything is light up. Zuko got the idea from Jin a person he spoke to in the Earth Kingdom.

"Wow it's beautiful! Is this the fountain from when we were kids?"

"It is." Mizuki looks around before smiling and sitting on the stone fountain. "I remember Azula put an apple on my head and lit it on fire. We both fell into the fountain." Zuko chuckles. "That was so long ago." He mumbles sitting next to her. She nods. "But we have each other. And we always will have each other." She lays her head on Zuko's shoulder. He wraps an arm around her. "Yeah." They stare at the moon in silence enjoying the peaceful evening.