NOTE: To those that read my work, you'll know that this originally started out as part of a series of OS/TS but it started to take on a life of its own. So I thought it'd be easier to collect all of the follow on's to this, and continue it on as a new fic. This is a slow burner, I began this fic by exploring the darker, angstier side of Zutara, and Zuko's anger. I want the story to evolve with the characters. Also each chapter is inspired by lyrics.

Your tears don't fall; they crash around me – Bullet For My Valentine

Returning from a hard day of healing, Katara left the infirmary in high spirits. Today would be hers and Zuko first major celebration since their marriage two weeks prior. Walking in anticipation, she thrummed with excitement at the thought of what Zuko had planned for them both. A relaxing bath? A romantic dinner? Or maybe a sudden holiday,she mused. Whatever it would be, she knew she'd be thankful since Zuko meant the world to her.

Deliberating whether she should go to her Fire Lord immediately, she decided to change first before her visit. Although she had her own separate room, Zuko refused to let her sleep anywhere other than next to him. So she used her own room to store her clothes and would occasionally slip away to it when Zuko wasn't around.

Opening the door, she was met by a sudden bitter wind. Shivering, she swiftly found the source of the draft. Shutting the balcony doors, she held back a yelp as the room unexpectedly alighted. A hand clamped around her mouth, muffling her voice. Frantically trying to escape, she only relaxed when her mind registered who the trespasser was.

Releasing her, her visitor watched her warily.

"Zuko?" she questioned.

There was no reply as he sustained his icy glare towards her.

"Zuko?" she repeated, her voice small.

"I'm surprised you even have the audacity to return here!" he spat venomously.

"What?" she cried.

"Don't even for a moment think you can fool me."

"But Zuko I-"

"I can't believe I married a lying, cheating water peasant. This is my comeuppance for marrying someone like you!" His anger radiated through the room.

"Zuko" she tried again, confusion and fear now evident in her voice.

"You slept in my bed, fed me lies, all while you were busy whoring out to that scum!"

"Zuko!"

"What? Don't like me referring to your lover like that?" he asked darkly, his voice void of any caring emotion.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips, causing her to shift her attention towards him again. The Zuko that now stood before her was far from the joyous man she had married. The man that she called her husband now had an empty expression in his eyes as a sneer tore across his lips.

"You thought that you were so clever. You thought that you could hide your actions from me. But I found out about you."

"Please Zuko" she begged. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Moving towards her with swift speed, he stared down upon her, his enraged gaze never wavering. Breathing smoke through his nostrils he lowered his head to her ears.

"Drop the act Katara. I know you're not innocent. All I want to is how long has it been it going on for?"

"Zuko, I don't know what you're talking about" she reasoned, tears filling her eyes.

Tugging at her hair, he forced her to look directly at him.

"Katara. I know you'll deny this but I have proof that every Thursday night when I was in a meeting, you'd sneak away and go visit your secret lover Jet."

Shaking her head in disbelief, she felt hot tears stream down her face as Zuko moved above her.

"I swear Zuko, I never did that!" she sobbed, before reeling back from his blow to her cheek. Raising her hand to the sore mark that now covered her left cheek, Katara stumbled as she picked herself up and ran forcefully from the room.

Biting back any further tears till she was free of the palace, Katara ran as fast as she could, knowing that any distant between her and the monster she had left would not be enough for her. Never during her time of knowing Zuko had she expected such cruelty from him. It may have been just a slap but it had deeply shaken her. The fact that he had accused her of such wanton things only furthered her fragile state.

Racing in the direction of a nearby lake, she knew that she could not afford to stop before she got there, lest someone was to question her.

A thunderous noise rippled across the sky as the heavens opened, releasing heavy rain upon everything. Listening to the noises, Zuko's mind replayed the recent events. Why had he hit her, he contemplated silently.Never in his life had he been violently inclined towards women like that and today he had abused his wife! Even though she deserved it for her adultery, he should've known better than to resort to such behaviour.

A knock on his door drew him out of his deep thoughts.

"Zuko?"

Hoping it was Katara, he was sorely disappointed when his mother walked into his room.

"Where's Katara dear?" she inquired.

"We had a fight mother."

"What? Why? Don't worry all couples bicker I'm sure it was nothing" she reassured.

A grave silence enveloped them both until Zuko reluctantly replied, "I very much doubt that everything will be okay. Katara has been cheating on me."

"Zuko! How could you say such a thing?" Ursa shrieked.

"I have proof; someone I trust greatly wrote to me telling me that every Thursday during my meetings, she's slip away to a nearby village and meet up with her lover Jet."

"Zuko you fool!" his mother yelled.

"Don't you dare defend her; I even caught her sneaking away!" Channelling his anger away from his mother he forced his fist through a wall.

"Son" Ursa addressed, her tone sombre. "I know for a fact that Katara never did what you accused her off as the days when she would slip away she would join me and we would go down to the near villages to help the poor and the sick. She made me promise not to tell anyone as it was deemed unfit for her, the Fire Lady to be scampering everywhere, helping commoners like that.

With her words ringing in his ears, he slumped to the ground in defeat. Cradling his face in his hands, he ignored his mother's questions.

Eventually growing irked at Ursa's badgering, his silent resolve broke. "Mother, I hit her!"

Her gasp of shock and horror was answer enough for him.

"I raised my hand on the only creature that ever truly loved me. What kind of man hits his wife?" he barked hysterically.

"You need to go find her."

"Why? She already hates me. Why should I cause her further pain?"

"Zuko, stop being so stubborn and listen to me! Go find your wife, beg, grovel do whatever it takes to bring her back, because if you don't do this now, then you'll lose her forever. "

Staring at the tearful eyes of his mother, he found the will to stand. As fresh determination replaced his shock and disgust, he began doubting himself again.

"Mother, what if she doesn't want me? I hurt her."

"Zuko, Katara is a strong woman. She loves you dearly. Just do whatever it takes to bring my daughter in law back."

Nodding his agreement, Zuko set off in search of his wife, knowing that the road ahead was treacherous at best.

# ~Would she hear me if I called her name?

Would she hold me if she knew my shame?~ #