"So how long has that boy been with you?" Gran gran smiled at Katara as her granddaughter was driving them from the mall.

"Zuko? Around six months we've been friends, but we started dating like a month or so ago," Katara smiled back but saw it was a test and her grandmother wasn't pleased.

"And your father allows him to sleep in your bed? What are you thinking? Youre a lady Katara," she huffed a little.

"Oh zukos not like that, he's very respectful, you would like him gran, I really hope you give him a chance," Katara inhaled deeply as she kept her eyes on the road.

"When I was your age I had men chasing after me and I let them earn my hand," gran gran pouted a little.

"You ran from an arranged marriage..."

"Fine, what does the boys parents do for a living? Is he going to college? Does he have a job? Can he support you?" Gran gran crossed her arms and Katara smiled softly knowing how protective she was.

"Zuko wants to go to college, he works with his uncle and takes care of the shop, he's very supportive and does take really good care of me, we started out as friends gran gran, we have a really neat relationship and I think it's really healthy, I'm helping him and he's helping me," Katara explained with a softly look on her face.

"And his parents? If you marry this boy I want to make sure they'll be there too since I live so far and your father isn't always there," gran gran raised a brow at her.

"Marriage gran gran? Really?" She groaned.

"Answer Katara," the older woman said sternly.

"His uncle owns a tea shop, he was very popular in Japan," Katara shook her head but gran gran glared at that.

"A boy that doesn't live with his mother and father is bound to be troubled, probably is a delinquent," gran gran spat.

"His mother is dead and his father neglected him, of course he lives with his uncle, iroh is a good man and raised him well," Katara finally snapped back catching her grandmother by surprise.

"He's a really sweet guy gran gran, I love him and I really don't need you to keep criticizing him anymore, it wasn't his fault for how his family treated him so please... enough,"she stopped the car and gran gran paused with wide eyes at her youngest grandchild's defensiveness.

"So he wants to go to college? For what?" Gran gran changed the topic.

Katara inhaled deeply and saw Suki pulled up to her house with Aang and Zuko. She parked the car and went over to open the door for her grandmother.

"Hey how was one on one time?" Katara teased as Zuko walked over to help them with the bags.

"We just hung out around down town," he shrugged as Katara opened the trunk and looked over to see gran gran going inside.

"Watch out for her, she might corner you," Katara grabbed her bags but Zuko grabbed them from her so she'd carry less.

"I can handle your grandmother, don't worry," Zuko smiled down at her gently. She rolled her eyes knowing otherwise but kissed his nose before closing the trunk.

"She'll tear you apart," she hummed.

"Don't worry about it, I just came to pick up my bike so you'll have the evening with your family for your birthday," Zuko walked behind her with the shopping bags.

"Your not staying?" Katara asked confused.

"I don't want to be cornered by your grandma," he told her.

"I have to close the shop anyways, uncles getting his cast off later," Zuko eased her concern and she nodded slowly.

"He's healing good?" Katara asked as they walked in the house and he nodded assuring.

"I've been making him take the medication the doctors prescribed, healthy diet and getting him to exercise a little by taking walks twice a day, plus I nag until he leaves to take a walk," he smiled setting the bags on the table and peaked in curiously what she bought.

"New clothes?" He asked.

"Yes! There was this green dress that I really liked at the store but they were out," Katara huffed a little but Zuko went to the closet where he hid her presents in her own house.

"Here, I was going to give you your gifts in the morning but there was some distractions," Zuko handed her a bag calmly with tissue paper inside. Katara took it slowly as she was suspicious of her boyfriend.

She pulled out a gold necklace with a white opal in the center, her eyes widen as she held in carefully in her hands, it felt expensive and very much real.

"Zuko this is..." Katara breathed softly but he took it and gently turned her around to put the necklace on. He clipped it and the gold thin chain laid against her collar bones as the opal hung against her sternum. He kissed the side of her head gently as he stood behind her.

"It looks beautiful on you, love," he whispered in her ear.

"You're such a hopeless romantic," Katara blushed covering her face. Her heart raced in her chest.

"There's one more thing, I think you'll like it," Zuko shrugged and she peaked in the bag curiously and burst out laughing.

"You asshole took the last green dress?" Katara pulled it out and hugged it to her chest giggling.

"Hey I thought you'd like it a long time ago," he huffed blushing a little.

"I do, thank you, you treat me to good," Katara touched the side of his cheek gently but pushed his face away when gran gran came in.

"Hi gran," Katara smiled brightly trying to not be awkward.

"Look at the necklace Zuko got me, isn't it gorgeous?" She showed excitedly.

"I thought he only worked in a tea shop? How'd you afford it boy?" Gran gran asked suspiciously.

"I work a lot and save money," Zuko told her calmly not thinking to much of it.

"I'll call to you once the shops closed down later kat, and it was nice meeting you," Zuko waved a little to gran gran before kissing Katara on the forehead and left while waving over to Sokka and Suki.

Katara blushed with a smile on her face watching him leave on his motorcycle. She didn't really care for anyone's approval, she was so in love with that man.