Zutara Month my lovelies! Aren't you as excited as I am? Here's my first submission.

Day 1: Relief

"How long has it been now?" Katara questioned impatiently with the tap of her foot. She loathed waiting for more than a few hours and not knowing the gist of what was going on.

"Only two minutes longer than the last Sugar Queen." Toph said with her filth covered feet propped up on the table letting the excess dirt drop onto the place they ate. "I don't understand why you're freaking out! They'll be fine. Twinkle Toes is the Avatar, Sparky is angry all the time so he can take care of himself, even Sokka has his sword skills. You have nothing to worry about. Unless they fell into the volcano of course," typical Toph always was ending her upbeat talks with something horrible. But Katara was already thinking the worst as soon as the boys had left for the volcano. Aang couldn't resist helping a group of Pandahogs migrate away from the hot area. Sokka wanted to see these animals and Zuko tagged along for reasons unknown to Katara. She just wanted them back safe in the house, no Fire Nation to arrest them and no magma to fall into.

"Ugh! I don't understand how long it takes for them to help out a few Pandahogs and come home. They've been gone for hours!" Katara seemed to whine. This behavior wasn't normal for her but she couldn't help it. If anything happened to Aang or her brother… or Zuko… she would never live it down.

The door creaked and Katara perked up but Toph shook her head. "Why don't you go take a nap Katara, it will help time fly!" She waved her hand like it was flying. Katara shrugged and decided Toph was right in this case. Sleep may make the time pass, and she hadn't been sleeping well for a while. Something wasn't right in her head at the moment but she couldn't put a finger on what it was.

Katara walked into the other room of the summer house and found her bed. She slid into it peacefully and closed her eyes letting the heaviness of sleep take over her.

It had been a few hours later when she heard the door flew open and Sokka shouted loudly that they were home. Katara jumped up, being awoken from her sleep and looked around. She heard the boys' voices and rushed into the other room.

"She missed you guys so much, she drove herself sick." Toph was explaining. Katara walked up to them blushing. "I'm just glad I don't have to hear her ask me how long it has been every minute." She winked at Sokka.

"I'm relieved you're all home," Katara gushed and hugged her brother and Aang. She walked toward Zuko and stopped a moment. "You too Zuko," she whispered and gave him a hug. Her face was read again but she tried to hide it by changing the subject, "Whose hungry? Dinner will be on its way." Sokka, Toph and Aang rushed into the kitchen for their meal. Katara turned to Zuko who was still barely letting out a smile.

"I brought you home something. I know the tradition is different in the Earth Kingdom but I promise this isn't a proposal." He pulled a panda-lily out of his pocket and handed it to her. She gasped and took the flower. "When we were on the rim of the volcano I found it and I thought maybe you'd like one." She glanced up at the prince and nodded her head.

"Thank you Zuko, it's beautiful," without thinking the Watertribe girl wrapped her arms around him and gave him another hug. The flushed face spared no face in the room as the awkward silence set in. She smirked at him as they pulled back.

"Hey! I want my meal!" Sokka shouted from the kitchen. Katara laughed and walked toward the kitchen. Zuko soon followed after her, trying to hide the smile of his own.

I hope you enjoyed. Happy Zutara Month!