A/N: So this is my very first fanfic. This idea played into my mind for a while now I decided to onto paper. So please be gracious...

I will write more chapters after this, just haven't had the time. Besides, I want to know if this story is worth continuing. If that's true then I'll finish it all and then go back to explain what happens before. Somethings are somewhat implied in the first few paragraph's but anyways

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender. If I did...well never mind. XD

Katara's eyes shot opened. She sat upright, wondering for a second where she was, then slowly sank back remembering she was camping in the Earth Kingdom forest with Zuko. She drew up her hands and massaged her temples with her fingers. Why did I have to have this dream now? Katara mused over the vivid nightmare and what caused such a memory to reappear. Her mind wandered from the night before, the incident with Zuko. She flinched from the memory. Is that what brought this on? Katara sighed and shook her head, attempting to shake away her bitter thoughts. The sky still held onto the night but vaguely started to brighten. Katara sank back into her sleeping bag, snuggling under the covers. Zuko would awake soon and she didn't want to see him. She closed her eyes and tried drifting back to sleep. In her sleepiness, her mind once again came back to the dream

"Mom," Katara whispered frighteningly. "I'm scared." She stared down at the snow, her feet turned in.

"Go find your Dad, sweetie. I'll handle this." Katara looked up and saw the man's face. A flash went across her mind and saw the same man older, at her mercy. The picture faded with her voice in the background "I didn't forgive him. I'll never forgive him."

Katara laid there, on her side. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't sleeping. Why do I have to think about this? I'm supposed to be focused on Zuko and his mother, not...this. Katara took a deep breath.

"Katara?" a warm voice soothed. Katara froze. Slowly, she rose up into a sitting position. She turned to a pale dark-haired boy. His eyes were gold and a red scar stretched across his left eye to his ear. His hair was shaggy in a neat way. He had red and black robes lined with gold however he was bare footed.

"Oh," she replied, "good morning, Zuko." He sat down next to her as she pushed back her hair into a pony-tail. Taking a few dew drops from the grass, she wiped her face. Zuko lifted his hand and brushed away the drops. He drew back his hand and evaporated the water. Katara gave him a small smile.

"Thanks." Zuko nodded.

"So," continued Katara. "Where are we starting today?"

Zuko stared at her, an eyebrow arched. "Uh, well," Zuko moved his hand to his head. He was looking at her as if he expected Katara to know something. Katara just stared back with a puzzled look.

"How about we rest it for today? Yesterday was...enough. We'll continue tomorrow."

Katara shrugged, still confused. "Okay, I'll just clean up camp and do the laundry, then."

Zuko removed his hand. "You don't have to work today. Why don't you relax?" Now, Katara was really confused. Since when did we relax when the subject came to finding Ursa?

"Are you feeling well Zuko?" Katara asked, putting a cool hand to his forehead. Zuko looked at her.

"Hmm, maybe not."

"Oh please do not be sick! That won't do!" Katara rolled her eyes. "Your such a baby, c'mon."

Katara took Zuko by the hand and they stood up together. They walked to the small river near by.

"Strip," Katara demanded. Zuko's face looked as bizarre as Katara's statement.

"Hey, you can't swim or bathe in your clothes." Katara put her hands on her hips. "So undress." Zuko started to move which satisfied Katara. She began to undress as well, down to her underclothes. She glanced back at Zuko and saw that his shirt was off, exposing his white body. Good. I'm not the one who needs to relax. This new Fire Lord deserves a break. Grinning mischievously, Katara ran to the river, and jumped into it, creating a bigger splash then normal. It doused Zuko. Katara arose to the surface and laughed at him. Zuko laughed too. He ran forward and jumped in. Katara turned away from the splash. Zuko swam underneath until he was right next to Katara.

"Boo!" He emerged from the water and grabbed her petite body. Katara shrieked as Zuko body slammed her in the water. Katara wrapped her arms around his legs, and as he stood up, pulled hard. He fell flat on his back. Katara laughed breathlessly as she stood up. Zuko came out of the water and laughed too.

"Giving up, Sifu Hotman?"

"I'm just getting started, Sugar Queen." Zuko launched himself on her, plunging themselves underneath.

"Do you want anymore baos?" Katara asked.

"No, I'm full." Zuko replied

"Alright." The pair laid out on the grass staring up at the clouds, facing the opposite direction with their right ears nearly touching. The hot sun warmed them as they stretched out, taking in the fresh air.

"So, what happened with Toph?" Zuko began. Katara smirked. This was a game they usually played to fill the silence. They would say a name and create a story about them. Normally it would just be any name (Li, Chan, Pao, Jing, etc.) but sometimes when they were heavy under stress, they would pick someone they knew. He must really need a distraction.

"She's put in a loft." Katara replied.

"Raising earth blocks."

"With a case of pox."

"Listening to a clock."

"Shouting into Sokka's sock-"

"I don't give a damn 'bout your hawk!"

The pair laughed. Katara closed her eyes, letting the sun bake her face and body. "hmmm," she murmured.

"Katara?" Zuko asked hesitantly. "Are you sure your alright?"

"Of course, Zuko," she replied sitting up. She turned slightly to him with an eyebrow raised. "Why wouldn't I be?" Zuko stared into her eyes. "I just thought, since it was, you know, this day--."

Katara interrupted, "What in the world are you talking about?"

"Katara do you know what today is?" he whispered softly.

"Of course I do!" Katara shouted throwing up her hands. "Its--." Realization sparked across her eyes, and she lowered her arms. So that's why he...because...of today. That's why I had...that dream.

"Oh." She faced in front of her, away from Zuko. "I forgot."

A sudden cry ripped from deep into her mind and her eyes filled with tears. A hand went up to her face and the tears trickled down her face. The tears felt hot as they streamed down. She left her eyes open, her vision blurred. This feeling, of loss, sank in her stomach. It ate away her inside, and her face contorted into the most desperate expression one has ever seen. Her body shivered as she cried into her knees, her arms wrapped around. She could hardly take it. A sob ripped from her throat. I can't believe I forgot.

Slowly, Katara felt two hands sweeping across her arms and pulled her into an embrace. Zuko held her strongly. "It's okay, everything is alright. I'm here" Zuko soothed quietly in her ear. Katara leaned back into Zuko, her eyes closed, more tears coursing down her face. "I can't believe I forgot."

She pulled his arms around herself. She was sitting in between his legs, feeling completely free to be vulnerable. Zuko rocked her back and forth. "Your mom knows you love her no matter what." Katara sobbed silently. "She loves you too." Katara turned her head so her face was in Zuko's neck.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Whether she was apologizing to Zuko or her mother, he didn't know. But he knew what this felt like, and caressed her arms. "Your forgiven," he replied.

The wind blew Katara's hair. Orange, pink, and red clouds illuminated the sky. Katara knelt down to her knees in front of the tree where her mom's brown shrine was set, made by Zuko. She had put two sticks of incense in the shrine and laid two white water lilies in front of it. Soft footsteps were heard behind her, and someone else knelt beside her. He extended a white hand to the incense and pinched the sticks, setting them a fire. The smell of jasmine and juniper escaped from it. Katara bowed down low before the shrine as did Zuko. They stayed there for a few seconds, forehead touching the green grass. I'm so sorry mother, that I forgot. I am not worthy to be your daughter or to have your love. Please forgive me. A few tears came into her eyes but didn't fall. You are the bravest person I know. Thank you for all you have done. I wish I could see you one more time. There's so much I wish to ask you. I love you. Katara sat up. Zuko did as well and looked at her. He wiped away her tears then took her hand from her lap. Katara bowed her head. "Happy Birthday, Mom." she whispered.

Zuko bowed his head. "Happy Birthday, Kya."

Katara lay awake to one side. Her eyes were semi-closed. She could hear Zuko's breathing softly beside her. Mom, there are so many questions I want to ask you. So many undecided answers. Please! I need your help. A soft wind caressed Katara's face. She looked up at the illuminated sky. Today was a full moon. She stood up and walked to the riverside. Bending low before the water, she traced the current of the river.

"Katara," a voice whispered. "Katara."

Katara shut her eyes. It was Yue's voice, she knew, but Yue was dead.

"Katara, look up at me." the voice commanded. Katara unwillingly looked up to see Yue, shining mistily before her. "Yue." Katara breathed.

"Come," Yue signaled, extending her hand. "You have someone expecting you." Katara nodded and took her outstretched hand. When her fingers touched Yue's, her spirit silently left her body. Katara's physical body gasped and fell to one side. Katara looked at herself. Ugh, am I really that ugly when I pass out? Katara shook her head to distract her from her shallow thought. "Come, Katara. We have to be back by sunrise." Katara tightened her grip on Yue. The pair walked like two ghostly beings up to the sky. Katara looked down. Her eyes met piercing golden. "Zuko," she whispered. Her eyes followed him as he ran towards her body. He hugged the body, her body, close as he looked up at her.

Yue drifted next to Katara. "She will be back, Fire Lord, by sunrise. Watch over her body." Zuko nodded. Katara half-smiled as she followed Yue. Zuko's face was etched in worry. She semi-waved, airly. Zuko's eyes were tight but he moved his head in recognition, meaning he understood. With nothing else to say, Katara turned with Yue and they ascended into the night sky.

Yue softly led Katara through the night sky. As they neared the moon, a bright white light started to glow and soon enveloped them. A soft blue light suddenly snapped ahead, Katara closed her eyes from the blinding light. Instantly, Katara and Yue disappeared.

When Katara finally opened her eyes, she was sitting on a small island surrounded by crystal clear water. Yue no longer held her hand but faced towards her.

"Katara," she smiled warmly. She opened her arms. Katara jumped up immediately and began to hug the former North Pole Princess, but she remembered she was still mortal while Yue was a spirit. Katara stepped back and lowered her arms. Yue laughed softly. She walked up to Katara and enveloped her into a deep hug. Katara, shocked, immediately wrapped her arms around her body and breathed in deeply. When the two friends broke apart, they couldn't help but smile at each other. But Katara had questions, and they needed answers

"Yue," Katara began, " where am I?" Yue nodded.

"You are in the spirit world, the land where the pre-existed now reside," she replied. Katara surveyed her surroundings. It was a beautiful and peaceful place. A soft light from the spirit sun shown through a canopy of trees over the small island. There was a rock path across the clear water into a bamboo forest, where Katara guessed lived the deceased.

"Katara, Kya requested me to let her talk to you," Yue explained. Katara's eyes widened. "You cannot cross that path, you must stay here," Yue continued. "You have until sunrise, so use your time wisely." Yue smiled again and gave her hands a tight squeeze. "I'll come back to you when your time is up." With that, Yue disappeared. Katara waited silently.

Suddenly, she heard the rustle of bamboo shoots. She looked towards the sound. The stalks parted as Katara held her breath. Out stepped Kya, younger and more beautiful then Katara remembered. Katara gasped wildly. Her hair was identical to Katara's, but less wavy. Her blue eyes sparkled as she made her way across the path. It took all of Katara's will power not to get up and run towards her, remembering Yue's warning. Finally, Kya stepped onto the small island. "Hi, Katara," she whispered softly. Her eyes began to fill with tears. Something wet slid down Katara's cheek. She touched it and it took awhile to register that she was crying. Katara couldn't take it anymore.

"Mom!" She darted forward and wrapped her arms around her. Kya wrapped one arm around her waist, the other rested on her head. "Katara," she whispered in her ear. "I've missed you."

"Mom," Katara tightened her hold. "I missed you too." Katara closed her eyes and let her tears fall. She had her mother again.

A/N: Please R&R!

Me