So I wrote this after a full day of moping around the house and reading Zutara fanfics. I can't believe Zutara didn't happen. I thought it was going to when Zuko took that bolt of lightning for Katara. Even Azula knew that Zuko liked Katara, why else would she attack her. But It's ok because I already rewrote the ending in my head. Enough ranting.

I was very tentative to post this because I'm not sure it's any good or if people will even like it, but I wrote it so I did. I hope to continue this if it is well recieved. It will be Zutara, have no fear. I don't really think Zuko loves Mai, he just feels bad that she got sent to prison helping him escape from the Boiling Rock. So now onto my take of how Aang and Katara ended up together.

Disclaimer: If I did Zutara would have totally kicked Kataang's but!

She watched helplessly as the lightning hit Zuko square in the chest and he crumpled to the ground in a heap, unable to move because of the raw energy still coursing through his body. She tried to go to him and heal him but her path was suddenly blocked by fearsome blue fire, the hottest kind and most devastating. She dodged the fire and skated on bended water to get away. She saw a grate with water coursing beneath it and chains hanging on a nearby pillar; she knew what she had to do. She waited until Azula was in place before baiting her to come in close for an attack, which the mad girl readily took, then brought the water from beneath them both up to surround them, turning it to ice to immobilize Azula. She then melted the ice around herself and chained Azula to the grate at her feet. She had done it. She had defeated the mad princess that had caused her so much grief, but her feeling of triumph did not even compare to the dread she felt as she turned and saw Zuko's body lying face down, unmoving. She ran to him and gently turned him onto his back as she tenderly cradled his head in her hands, searching for any sign of life. She brought water to surround her hands and placed them on Zuko's frightening wound in a desperate attempt to heal him. After a few moments she was rewarded for her efforts when she glanced at Zuko's face and saw him smiling at her. "Thank you Katara." He said to her.

She replied with, "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you," as tears of relief started to flow openly from her eyes. She put her arm around his shoulders and he put his around hers, and as she gently helped him into a sitting position their faces grew close. She paused and looked deep into his golden eyes, she thought she caught a glimpse of something, something she couldn't put her finger on…was it affection? Her head suddenly dipped very close to Zuko's and she could feel his breath on her face. She felt her eyes close and…


Katara awoke very suddenly and sat up swiftly, eyes wide. She had had the same dream since the defeat of the Fire Lord and Azula. It was always the same; she saw the battle between Zuko, Azula, and herself and after she healed Zuko and saved his life she almost kissed him. And she could also remember seeing something in his eyes, something close to affection. But she couldn't be sure because that part of her dream never really happened; she just wanted it to, so very badly.

Ever since she had forgiven the rogue fire bender she had felt something for him. She couldn't call it love, not yet anyway. She didn't know him well enough for that, but one day it could turn into love, it could blossom beautifully like the white lotus flower. But for now she would call what she felt for the future Fire Lord…fondness. And right now her fondness for him was telling her to seek him out. She quickly used her water bending to easily bathe and changed into her favorite outfit and fixed up her hair then set off down the hall toward Zuko's rooms.

She reached his rooms swiftly and found the door slightly adjar. She was about to enter when she heard voices within,"…boyfriend is the fire lord." Katara gasped in complete shock. Mai had said her boyfriend was the Fire Lord and the new Fire Lord was Zuko. Mai loved Zuko and from what she heard, Zuko loved Mai too. Katara could not believe what she had just heard so she peaked through the gap in the open door and her eyes were met with the scene of Zuko and Mai kissing. Katara gasped again and this time her breath caught in her throat, which started to burn with the effort of holding back her tears. She ran away as quickly as she could so no one would see her cry, but when she was back in the privacy of her room she loosed her hold on her tears and the floodgates were open.

She had thought she meant something to Zuko. When a man takes a bolt of lightning for you, that's saying something. And she thought what he was saying was that he loved her, or at least had feelings for her. She couldn't believe how wrong she had been. Zuko didn't love her; he had no feelings at all for her. He was just using her to fill Mai's void, until he could have Mai again, then he tossed Katara aside like a dirty napkin. Katara didn't know what to do, here was a man she thought she could one day love, but he was in love with another woman. Somehow Katara would have get over Zuko and put it all behind her, but for now, all she could do was cry.


It was a few weeks later. The gang was in Ba Sing Se just reveling in the peace and relaxing and having fun. Katara was getting over her broken heart, at least now whrn she saw Zuko and Mai together she didn't feel as though her heart was being torn out of her chest: she only felt a dull ache. But she was happy that Zuko was happy at least, wasn't he? And wasn't that a sign of true love? Katara didn't know. She was still very much confused.

Katara glanced outside and saw Aang on the balcony. Aang, the boy who defeated Ozai and saved the world. She knew he still loved her. And she loved him, but as nothing more than a brother or close friend, not the way she loved Zuko. But as she walked outside she thought that at least she could make Aang happy, and who knows, maybe she could grow to love him like he loved her. She didn't know. What she did know was that she wanted both Zuko and Aang to be happy, and if being with Aang could make that possible, then that was what she would do. So as she walked up to Aang she blushed and they embraced. Maybe Aang could make her forget Zuko, maybe.


So, what did you guys think? Was it any good? Is it worth continuing? If I do continue it it WILL be Zutara. So don't worry about that. Please review. I would appreciate it very much. Any criticism is welcome.