Tu Cho rushed to the kitchen, trying to calm her nerves. She opened the door to see people rushing about, finishing cooking.
A young woman, Head Chef Alya, spotted her. "Princess Tu Cho! You should be getting ready!"
"I just needed to check things," Tu Cho said.
"You did a great job delegating, Princess," Alya said. "I have this all under control."
"Okay, okay," Tu Cho said, taking a deep breath. "Thank you, Alya." She turned away and hurried off to the court yard.
Another servant girl who'd been delegated head of decorating, cut her off. "Princess, you really must be getting ready!"
"So everyone says, Salva," Tu Cho said. "I'm just worried-"
"That something is going wrong?" Zuko's voice interrupted. He grabbed his sister's hand, nodding to Salva so she could return to her work. "Let the lady work. The flowers are perfect, the food is delicious, the weather is beautiful, and your dress is waiting. The only thing wrong is that you are not getting ready right now."
Tu Cho took a deep breath. "You're right."
"Come on." Zuko steered his sister inside to her room to get ready.
Tu Cho stepped into the room to find Suki helping Kita - who was already in her gold and blue flower girl dress - with her hair. "Suki! You're here!"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Suki said as she moved the little girl to the next seat over. Suki hugged Tu Cho. "Why haven't you started getting ready yet?"
"It doesn't matter," Tu Cho said, pushing the feeling away. "I'm here to get ready now."
Tu Cho was soon in her long red and gold wedding dress that would match Aang's and Hadoka's arranged clothing. Katara and Suki were in blue and gold. The idea was to create a bit of semetry on the stage using the wedding colors.
Tu Cho heard a knock at the door before it opened just an inch. "Tu Cho?" Sokka's voice said, sounding worried.
"Uh oh. There it is." Tu Cho walked to the door, keeping it between them so they couldn't see each other. "What's wrong?"
"I just got a hawk from my dad," Sokka said. "They were delayed by the storm last night and won't arrive until tomorrow."
Tu Cho took a deep breath. "Without him we can't do the water tribe traditions..."
"Hey, it's okay." Sokka reached around the door, feeling for Tu Cho's hand. "We'll have a beautiful fire nation wedding."
Tu Cho squeased his hand. "Okay. Let Zuko know so he can tell everyone who needs to know. "
"Okay," Sokka said. "Tu Cho..."
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too." Tu Cho smiled releasing his hand. She pressed the door closed with a sigh of relief. "That's it."
"That's what?" Suki asked.
"That's the thing that goes wrong today," Tu Cho smiled. "The feeling is gone."
"Feeling?" Suki asked. "Thought you did more on premonition and dreams."
"I've gotten better with training," Tu Cho said. "But nothing else is going to go wrong."
"That's great," Suki said patting the chair. "Now sit."
A knock came at the door and Zuko slipped in with his eyes covered. "Everyone decent?"
"You're good," Tu Cho said, looking at her brother in the mirror.
"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." Zuko reached into his pocket as he walked toward her. "You still need something borrowed, right?"
"Uh, yeah..." Tu Cho said curiously.
"Here." He held out a small bundle.
Tu Cho unwrapped the bundle. In her hand was the hair piece of the crowned prince. "Zuko, this-"
"Is just on loan." Zuko pulled his sister's hair into a top knot. "I'm not asking you to take the responsibilities, just to wear the hair piece for a day."
"Zuko, it-"
"It's not permanent and you're not-"
"Zuko!" Tu Cho stopped him. "You're doing it again." She smiled at him in the mirror. "This is lovely, thank you."
"Sorry." Zuko smiled as he secured the top knot. "I ramble when I'm nervous."
"I know."
~~~
Tu Cho stood at the end of the hall, leaning against the wall and breathing deeply. Tu Cho needed just a second to breathe and relax before it started.
"So your full title really just is 'of the water tribe'?" Zuko's voice asked from around the corner.
"Yeah," Sokka said. "I'm nothing fancy. Hey, Zuko?" The two stopped moving closer. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah," Zuko said. "Anything."
"Why me? Tu Cho could have literally anyone she wants to be with. She's smart and beautiful and strong." Sokka said. "She's a princess, for spirit's sake! Any man would be lucky to have her."
"I don't-"
"Any man would be lucky to have him," Tu Cho interrupted her brother. "Sokka is thoughtful and caring and creative. He's so handsome, he could have anyone he wanted to marry. Anyone would be lucky to have him."
"Tu Cho!" Zuko said in surprise.
"Go ahead, Zuko," Tu Cho said with a smile, not peaking around the wall. Zuko continued on with a smile at his sister.
Tu Cho reached around the wall. "Sokka?"
Sokka took her hand. "Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too." Sokka took a deep breath. "I... I'm nervous. My dad's not here and I'm worried I'm going to mess up."
"Learning he was going to miss it," Tu Cho chuckled. "Honestly it relaxed me. Something was going to go wrong and learning that was it, I stopped feeling crazy." Tu Cho smiled. "You keep me from feeling crazy."
"I want to see you so bad."
"Wanna include an Earth Kingdom tradition?"
"What is it?" Sokka asked.
"It's called a first look. The bride and groom see each other for the first time, no one else around," Tu Cho said. "Just like this. It's supposed to help calm nerves."
Sokka squeased her hand with a smile. "I'd love that."
"Three. Two. One." The two stepped around the corner with their eyes closed, holding both of each other's hands. Tu Cho giggled nervously. "Are your eyes closed too?"
"Yep," Sokka said with a chuckle. "It doesn't feel real..."
Tu Cho set a hand on Sokka's face. "Is your hair down?"
"Yes it is," Sokka said.
Tu Cho let out a slow breath and opened her eyes. Sokka's hair was down, framing his face.
Sokka opened his eyes too. "You... you're beautiful..."
"Look at you, wolf warrior." Tu Cho looked him over. "Funny pants and all."
"They are kinda funny huh," Sokka smiled. "But look at you. A royal head piece?"
"My something borrowed." Tu Cho hugged him tight. "Sokka, I love you."
Sokka held her firmly. "I love you." After a long hug, Sokka kissed Tu Cho.
After some time a young man came up and cleared this throat. "I'm sorry, princess," the young man said. "Fire Lord Zuko sent me to get you. He says it's almost time."
Tu Cho kissed Sokka again quickly. "I'll see you at the end of the aisle."
Sokka chuckled. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Tu Cho followed the boy.
A/N
Numbers are gonna be off from here on until I have time to fix them. Enjoy the new chapters!