I'm still quite into Avatar, so here's a Zutara, idk, story? I was reading some stories last night and Zuko was just so flustered around Katara I thought it was just way too cute. And that was in all of the stories I read last night, so, here's one about him proposing to her. I'm sure there's another one about this too, but who cares?

The cuss word 'Damn', will be a recurring statement. In fact, it's plural is the first word. Please, don't let that bother you.

I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. If someone told you I did, they're liars. Kay?

Dammit, he was the Fire Lord. But right now, as he sat on the deck of his ship with the destination the Southern Water Tribe, he was nervous. He was afraid of what would happen. He was willing to bet that they would cower in slight fear and ready their defenses. But the last thing he was there to do was fight them.

Oh no, he would prefer to do that. Not that he wanted to.

Zuko was there on much scarier business.

He was going to talk to Katara's father, and ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. Of course, he had heard this was custom in the Water Tribes, and he thought it was polite. But Zuko was worried how they might react to the Fire Nation on their doorstep asking to be united.

And Zuko was also cranky. He'd been sailing for about two weeks, and had left the Fire Nation to his Uncle Iroh who was more than willing when he learned why he was going.

He kept going over different scenarios in his head about what would happen. Would they attack? No, that'd break the alliance they had made a year ago. He prefer that over the other scenario. Zuko's heart would break if Hakoda said no. But he would accept it with dignity..he hoped. They had only been courting for a span of six months, a little after she broke it off with Aang.

And as he saw the newly remodeled Southern Water Tribes, his heart skipped a beat.

They sailed into dock.

Everyone kind of scurried at the sight of the dreaded Fire Nation at their door. They docked and the ramp dropped. Zuko descended in his royal robes and armor, keeping a regal façade

Many soldiers had formed, and Zuko had his own royal guards behind him. And as a promise of peace Fire Lord Zuko turned to meet his soldiers and spoke;

"Stand down soldiers. We are here on an order of peace, not an attack. Back to your quarters, you're all on break for however long I'm here," Zuko immediately heard the protests.

"But sir-"

"That's not royal tradition-"

"That denies-"

But they were all cut off by the look the Fire Lord gave them all, and with a bow and a "Yes, sire." they retreated.

Then Zuko turned to face his destiny, a group of soldiers at his front. But they were not at all on guard anymore.

Zuko bowed in Fire Nation Style, then spoke out, "I'd like to speak with your tribal cheif, Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe." And with that Hakoda descended with all of the regality of a royal. Which, in the tribes, he is.

They gripped each other's arms in standard fashion, smiling. Hakoda and Zuko had spoken and met before, in different meetings and peace proposals.

That reminded him why he was here. Proposal.

"Hakoda," Zuko started with a smile slash grimace, "could I speak with you in private?"

"Of course!" They started walking, "How are you, my boy?" Hakoda could be the father he never had. Father-In-Law, that is.

Damn.

"I'm doing great," They walked to the newly decorated building of government, and this would not do for Zuko.

"Hakoda, sir, this is actually a more personal matter," Zuko fidgeted.

"Of course," Hakoda made a sharp right, and instead descended upon his home. It was larger then the others, and inside, Hakoda offered Zuko a seat next to the small indoor waterfall, while he put tea on.

Zuko sat and fidgeted. He admired the decorative home, looking at the animal pelts and and Water Tribes symbol etched into the far wall of the room.

Hakoda noticed his fidgeting and approached the Fire Lord, the tea water and leaves warming and sizzling.

"What is this personal business you come across the world for?" Hakoda spoke with a warm smile.

"It's about Katara," Zuko started and immediately noticed the worried expression that crossed the older man's face. "No, no, she's perfectly fine. But I came to.."

And this was it. How could he say it?

He decided to unconsciously blurt it.

"I came to ask for permission for her hand in marriage." Zuko's eyes darted to the symbol behind Hakoda's head.

Which means he barely caught the smile that erupted on his face.

"You most definitely have my blessing," Upon hearing these words, Zuko perked up and smiled.

"But, it's the tribe's blessing that truly matters." Hakoda said this gently.

Double damn.

"Of..course," came Zuko's disgruntled reply. At this time, Hakoda stood up and issued out the tea, talking as he went.

"It will be alright. I will call a banquet for the tribe, and you will have to say something to convince them, because they will not take this lightly. The Fire Nation has done a lot to the tribe's and world, and I know you only call for peace, but it takes a lot to forgive and forget. But unfortunately, this means you may have to stay a couple of days. You can stay here, but while you are here I advise you to interact with the people, show them you mean no harm. That will make their acceptance much easier." Hakoda sipped his tea.

All Zuko could do was smile and nod.

"Of course, let me tell my men we'll be docking for a few days. But, I can just sleep on my boat. I don't want to be an inconvenience," Hakoda reluctantly nodded.

"Come back here in the morning, after you do..whatever it is you Fire Lord's do," Zuko lightly chuckled and got up from his seat. He finished his tea and walked out. He walked back to his boat in thought, but was jolted out of his thoughts by a yell.

"SNEAK ATTACK!" Zuko anticipated the attack and deftly ducked the tackle, chuckling as Sokka flew over him.

"Same old, Sokka, I see," Zuko stuck out a hand to help him the Water Tribe boy up from where his face was buried in a mound of snow.

"Haha, that totally would have worked if.."

"If you hadn't yelled it out in warning? Yeah, it would have," Zuko smiled and hugged Sokka in a brotherly fashion.

"Why're you here oh mighty Fire Lord?" Sokka brushed the snow off his face and watched as Zuko's face morphed into a mask of horror.

He had forgotten to ask Sokka.

Triple damn.

"I came to talk to your father about..Katara," Zuko was so hesitant.

"What's wrong with her?" Sokka frowned.

"Nothing..except, I want to marry her," Zuko said this in a whisper to keep it a surprise. Zuko's head was suddenly in a tight headlock. He didn't struggle.

"You..want..to..marry my sister?" Sokka seethed and enunciated each word with a tight squeeze. Zuko simply nodded in the compromising position he was in.

"That's great man!" Sokka released Zuko, and the Fire Lord rubbed his neck.

"You're happy about it?" Zuko was flabbergasted.

"Of course, but how're you going to tell the tribe?" Sokka voiced what Hakoda had mentioned in questioning form.

"You're father is going to throw a banquet for the tribe in a couple of days and I'm staying here so I can announce it and try to win them over. Hakoda said to interact with everyone so they can see I mean no harm, but I have no clue how to do that?" Zuko questioned rather than stated.

"Oh, pssh, that's easy. Start with the children, they're easiest, then the women, and then the men." And Sokka had formed a plan.

First step, change. Apparently, Zuko could not be seen as a higher status, so he changed out of his robes and armor to something lighter and left his crown on his head. Well, he couldn't just leave it.

Sokka lead Zuko to where the children played, and together, they sat down and told the children the tale of when they traveled to the Boiling Rock, dumbing it down so it wasn't too violent.

"You see, there was this warden, who was really mean," Sokka started, and Zuko cut in.

"As soon as I was in office, I fired him. Mai was really mad at me," Sokka snickered and continued telling the story, with Zuko adding details at necessary moments. By the end of the tale, more then just the children were there. More women had joined at the sight of the Fire Lord in plain clothes and a warrior telling a story. Soon a couple of men ventured over too.

Sokka finished the tale by recounting what his father had said at the end.

"Sorry, Warden, but your record has officially been broken," Sokka howled with laughter, and his father, one of them men that had come over, laughed too. Zuko chuckled.

"Alright, kids, time for bed," The mother's gathered up their children.

"Aww," the kids chorused.

Zuko waved and smiled. Maybe they could accept him.

No, for reals, this is a Zutara story, but I like the idea of Zuko having to interact with the people of her tribe first. Yes, I realize that Katara was not in this chapter. No, he will not propose as soon as he see's her.

I'm actually going to be updating this often, for however long as it runs. I already have another chapter down, but I'm not posting it quite yet.

Thanks so much for reading, and please review.

~ Minnie