Authors Note: I do not own the characters. Everything belongs to their respective owners, including, but not limited to dialogue, plot and other various writing tools.

I have updated this chapter, and have made little improvements to it. It is not necessary to re-read the chapter to move on to the next, which I am currently working on. It's halfway finished.

Thank you to those that have followed and reviewed. It made my day.

Chapter 1: Ember Island Players

At intermission, the gaang sat on the steps of a covered balcony at the theater.

"So far the intermission is the best part of the play," Zuko said still a bit salty from his portrayal. He stood against the railing at the top of the stairs near Katara. The two of them unintentionally taking leading roles in the group.

"Apparently, the playwright thinks I'm an idiot who tells bad jokes about meat all the time," Sokka said as he waved a piece of sizzle jerky in his hand. He walked past Katara and took a seat next to Suki.

Suki mocked him, "Yeah, you tell bad jokes about a plenty of other subjects."

"I know!" Sokka said indignantly as he took a bite of the sizzle jerky.

"And you can be an idiot." Toph vocalized.

"Thank you, Toph," Sokka said as matter-as-fact. "Hey," he groaned.

"At least the Sokka actor kind of looks like you," said an annoyed avatar, "that woman playing the avatar doesn't resemble me at all." Aang said throwing his arms up and bringing them down to use his hands to cover his face.

"I don't know," Toph said in a sing-song voice, "you are more in touch with your feminine side than most guys." She was leaning agains the same railing as Zuko except she stood near the avatar at the bottom of the staircase.

Aang growled at his earth bending teacher, who only snickered in response.

"Relax Aang," Katara said to the young monk. She was sitting on the stairs leaning back on her elbows. "It's not an accurate portrayal. It's not like I'm an over-emotional crybaby who gives speeches about hope all the time."

All the faces in the group turned to look at her.

"What?"

"Yeah…that's not you at all" Aang turned away from her and sat down.

"At least say it to my face Aang. I made one, one, speech about hope to a bunch of earth benders on a metal prison. And what? I get labeled as an over-emotional crybaby!"

"Katara calm dow-"

"No Sokka! I won't calm down. In fact, I'll calm up." The ocean wave crashed against the shore bit louder than before.

"Katara that doesn't make any sens-"

Her eyes landed on Aang. He shrunk back from the heat of her glare.

The exiled fire prince could have sworn that the temperature had risen at least 10 degrees. His Uncle had once mentioned that Katara would have made an excellent fire bender. Zuko couldn't help but agree. She stood up and took two steps toward him, "Zuko." She seethed. Her scent floated up to him. It crowded his senses. "Do you think I'm an emotional crybaby?" He wasn't used to being addressed by her. Their field trip had gone better than he expected in terms of their relationship. Relationship? Zuko blanked. Startled by his own use of the word. Didn't I mean friendship? I don't know, did you? His mind questioned. A few seconds went by when he realized that the water bender was waiting for a response.

Zuko's face paled, but Toph couldn't see that. She only felt his heart stop and then pick up speed. Again… Interesting, Sparky. She thought. How very interesting. She smiled and decided to save him, "Listen, friends, it's obvious that the playwright did his research. I know it must hurt but what you're seeing up there on stage is the truth." She let them think on it for a few seconds. "Intermission is ending let's go back to our seats."

Toph had been feeling Katara and Zuko's vibrations ever since he joined. It started as a calm and steady hate from Katara, and nervous apprehension from Zuko. Slowly it had morphed into some kind of dance. It all started when they came back from their field trip. She told Suki about her suspicions, and the both of them have been analyzing the couple for weeks. Yet, Toph was certain that they both had no inklings of their feelings towards the other. Everyone knew that he had hurt her the most when he joined with Azula back in Ba Sing Se. When he joined the group he explained that it was only a farce. Azula thought Zuko was a fool. That he would be easily swayed by her words and promises of their father's love. Azula miscalculated Zuko's love for his uncle, his real father. Zuko waited and plotted all while thinking Zuko a fool.

Once inside the group reclaimed their seats, which placed Katara and Zuko next to each other. The curtain began to rise and the trio was in Gaoling looking for an earth bending master along with the girl that Aang had seen in his vision from the swamp. Never knowing that his earth bending master would be the swamp girl.

[Actor Toph: The name's Toph because it sounds like tough and that's just what I am.]

"Wait a minute, I sound like a guy… A really buff guy."

"Well Toph, what you hear out there is the truth. It hurts doesn't it?" Katara said trying to show that the play's portrayal was bogus.

"Are you kidding me? I wouldn't have cast it any other way," the blind earth bender laughed, "at least I'm not a bald flying lady." She couldn't resist making a jab at the avatar while simultaneously insinuating that the play had truth to it. She couldn't see Katara's annoyance, but she could feel it in her vibrations as she sat back in her seat and shared a glance with Zuko who shrugged. He didn't understand the blind earth bender either.

Everyone in the group cringed when Toph's actor released a sonic wave from his mouth claiming that that is how the blind earth bender could see. This made the female earth bender very happy.

The play moved onto when the group cornered Azula in the abandoned Earth Kingdom village. Zuko recoiled when Azula's actor shot Iroh's actor with lightning. Katara patted the hand that was on his thigh. He glanced down at her and whispered, "I'm sorry. I should have let you heal him."

"Yeah, you should have." She glanced at him with side eyes, but he could see the small smile on her lips, and let a small smile grace his lips. Toph felt both of their heartbeats quicken. She gave three silent taps of her feet, and Suki felt the taps as if they were under her own feet. She looked down at the earth bender and could see her pointing at the couple. She smiled knowingly and tapped her foot once. It was a system that Katara, Suki, and Toph developed when they wanted to communicate without the guys noticing. Mostly they used it to joke about Sokka.

Finally, the play made it to when the group encountered Azula's drill in Ba Sing Se after traveling through the Serpents Pass. The group let out a groan when they saw Joo Dee's actress.

"Who is Joo Dee?" Both Suki and Zuko asked as they weren't apart of the group yet.

"A brainwashed minion of the Earth King's right-hand man, Long Feng. Who tried to stop us from finding Appa and talking to the Earth King." Sokka answered nonchalantly. Both the female warrior and the fire bender nodded their head in understanding.

The play moved to when the gaang fought Long Feng under Lake Laogai.

"Did Jet just… die?" Zuko had remembered the freedom fighter. He had suspected that he and his uncle were fire benders; he was right of course, but Jet was never able to prove it. He didn't deserve to die that way.

"You know," Sokka said, "it was really unclear, but yeah I think he did."

The curtain came down and quickly rose again. The crystals on the stage began to glow. It was the catacombs where Zuko and Katara were held as Azula's prisoners under Ba Sing Se.

[Katara's Actress: I have to admit prince Zuko. I really find you attractive.]

Katara's eyes grew wide at her actress's admission.

Zuko blushed as he remembered Katara's actual words.

'My face, I see.' Zuko had put a hand up to hide his scar. Katara had crossed the caverns and pulled his hand away, but he didn't push away from her.

Katara was quick to stop him from thinking negatively about himself, 'I didn't mean your scar. Your scar is apart of you. You are not your scar and it doesn't make you any less attractive.' He remembered Katara bit her lower lip and blushed. She quickly continued on, 'Zuko I have healing abilities. This is water from the Spirit Oasis. I don't know if it'll work,' she brought out an icicle-shaped necklace, 'but if you really want to be free. I will try.' She went silent as Zuko pondered her words. Zuko had pulled her hand back to his face. She caressed his scar and he let his eyes close at her touch. It was the first time someone other than his doctors had touched it. He liked the way her cool hand felt against his ragged skin.

Zuko thought about her words and decided that she was right. It was a part of him, and he was beginning to like the man he was turning into. He stepped towards her closing the distance between them. He placed the Oasis water back around her neck and kissed her forehead. 'No, thank you, Katara.'

[Zuko's Actor: You don't have to make fun of me.] The real Zuko snorted, if they only knew the truth.

[Katara's Actress: But I mean it. I've had eyes for you since you first captured me.]

Both the real Zuko and Katara thought about the pirates. She thought about the way he held her wrists. He thought about the necklace he had kept on him.

[Zuko's Actor: Wait! I thought you were the Avatar's girl.]

[Katara's Actress: (She laughs) The Avatar? Why he's like a little brother to me. I certainly don't think of him in a romantic way. Besides how could he ever find out about this (the actors kiss on stage).]

Zuko and Katara looked at each other both of them were blushing, but they didn't know notice the flushed skin of the other. They moved away from each other wary of the group behind them.

"What?!" Sokka's jaw dropped as he noticed them move away from each other.

"So, Sparky, that's how you shut Sugar Queen up. No wonder she doesn't boss you around."

"Shut up Toph. Nothing like that happened." Katara huffed. Yeah, he only kissed your forehead.

"Yeah, Toph." The avatar chimed from the other side of Zuko, not knowing that they had shared an innocent kiss.

"Zuko's not denying it." Toph looked smug and her sing-song-voice was back. She relaxed. Her hands were behind her head and her feet rested on the rail.

Zuko was remembering her hand on his scar. He had submitted to her calming touch. Now that Zuko had seen the actors kiss on stage he couldn't get the image out of his head. He was imagining her lips on his. The fire prince was brought back to the present when Katara stomped on his foot.

"Ow, what was that for?" He blushed. She didn't see it.

"Deny it," She hissed.

Hearing Toph's remark, Sokka now alarmed raised his voice at the scarred fire bender, "Zuko, what happened with you and my baby sister?"

Before Zuko could say anything Suki spoke up. "We can talk about this later Sokka. The play is still on!" The group's attention turned back to the play. Sokka's glare never left the fire bender's head. Suki rolled her eyes at his petulance.

The group became engrossed when Zuko's character pushed his uncle and yelled obscenities at him.

Katara being unable to help herself placed her hand on his arm. "You didn't really say that did you?"

"I might as well have." Zuko's head rested on the railing in front of him.

"Zuko, he'll forgive you. I'm sure he already has." Her soft voice soothed some of the heartache. He wanted to reach for her hand, but held himself back knowing that the group would be watching them.

Aang stared at the pair with sad eyes. He hadn't wanted to accept, but now he had no choice. They shared a look. A look that the young monk couldn't understand. It was a look of appreciation and unadulterated love. Katara loved all people and only she would be able to love all parts of Zuko. Just as Zuko was able to understand Katara's rage and anger, even the part of her that craved for revenge. All the parts that Aang refused to acknowledge.

Something had indeed happened between the two of them in the catacombs under Ba Sing Se. Their blushes told the truth. It's no wonder Zuko had looked upset when he and Iroh broke through the walls. As Aang thought the look that two shared it seemed to him that they share another secret. One that has to do with their recent field trip to find Yon Rha.

Suddenly Aang stood up. "Sokka and I are going to get some fire flakes and fire gummies. Does anyone else want anything?"

"Nah, I'm good," Toph said picking her at her teeth.

"No, thank you, Aang."

"No. Thank you."

"I'll go with you guys."

Suki followed behind Sokka and Aang.

"What's going on Aang?"

"Sokka, are you blind?"

"Aang," Sokka's tone went from concerned to glacial.

"Katara and Zuko, do you think something happened between them?"

"As much as I don't like it Aang. That's their business. You need to respect it. They have done nothing to earn your hostility."

"Aang," Suki spoke up, "I know it's tough, but everything happens for a reason, and this revelation happened for a reason Aang. Maybe it's nothing, or maybe it's not."

"I'm going back to the house. I hate this play."

" Aang it's just a play." Sokka said dismissing the monk's concerns, "untwist your arrow."

"Okay, Aang be careful," Suki said.

As soon as the Avatar was out of sight Sokka asked Suki "So what do you really think?"

"Sokka," Suki placed her hands on his shoulder and kissed him.

"That bad, huh?"

"Get your food. And when we go back you will not say a word, and you will not glare at Zuko."

"But he's and Katara…" Sokka grumbled as he walked to the concession stand.

"Are old enough to make their own decisions. You just said that to Aang."

"Yeah, but she's my sister."

Suki raised her eyebrows but otherwise didn't comment.

Sokka continued to grumble all the way back to his seat. Suki made him switch places with her so that he was no longer seated behind the fire prince. Sokka never even touched his food. Instead, the bags sat uneaten, on his lap.

Katara stared out at the ocean below her. They returned back to the house just before sunset. Aang was feeding Appa when they returned. Katara had walked straight towards the beach. Her feet guiding her towards her element. The ocean wasn't like the beautiful arctic ocean that she grew up with, instead of it was exotic tropical water of the Fire Nation.

The play had been a drain on them, well all except Toph who loved every minute of it.

She didn't hear the earth bender walk up. "Okay Sugar Queen, spill."

Katara's eyes glanced over the blind earth bender. A tired smile on her face; she never could hide from her.

"What happened in the catacombs?"

Katara stiffened, "nothing happened."

"I can tell your lying." She knew when to push and if she pushed Katara any further she would deny her feelings. "I'll just go ask Sparky." Toph left.

"Toph!" Katara shouted at the retreating earth bender. She started to stand when the earth shifted under feet, knocking her back down.

"Katara, can I talk to you?" Aang came and sat next to her.

"Not now Aang. I need to talk to Toph about mind her own business."

"So it's true. Something did happen with you and Zuko?" That stopped her.

Katara stared at him, not sure what to say. "Aang, Zuko and I came to an understanding that is all." You're lying. She saw the Avatar's face brighten, but it faltered when he saw her grit her teeth.

"Katara, did you mean what you said in there?"

"In where? What are you talking about?" The change of topic caught her off guard.

"On stage, when you said I was like a- brother to you and you didn't have feelings for me."

"I didn't say that. The actress said that."

"But it's true, isn't it? We kissed at the invasion and I thought we would be together."

"Aang…" She sighed, "I don't know."

"Why don't you know?"

Katara wanted to smack her forehead like her brother. "We're in the middle of a war. We have more important things to worry about." She turned to face the 112-year-old boy. Out in the distance, the waves grew a little larger. "It's not the right time."

"When is the right time?"

A large wave crashed down and the water came up to their thighs. "Aang, I'm sorry, but right now I'm a little confused." Katara closed her eyes and held on to her hair. She felt pressure on her lips and opened her eyes in surprise. "I said I was confused!" The water behind her jumped up.

"Is it because of Zuko?" He bitterly spits out the words.

"What?" She said shocked. Then anger took over. "No! It's not because of Zuko! It's because of you! You're impatient and putting pressure on me. It's childish Aang. You need to respect my boundaries!" With those words, Katara walked into the ocean and used her water bending to propel herself into the ocean.

The Avatar sat on the beach stunned. Ice shards stood in front of him blocking his way.

Aang stiffened as he felt a hand come down on his shoulder.

"How much of that did you hear?"

"We heard all of it and I'm not happy with you Aang." Sokka glared at the young Avatar, "We need to have a talk. Let's go."

Aang turned back around and looked down to see Katara was practicing her bending in the middle of the ocean. "Fine."

After she tired of practicing her bending, she floated in the water. She hadn't thought it possible, but Zuko had been right. The Ember Island players did butcher their plays. However, she learned very quickly that they told their story with a grain of salt. She bit her lip. It had never occurred to her that people saw her and Aang as siblings. Now that she saw it she couldn't help but think that their interpretation had been correct. She did mother him, but she supposed it couldn't be helped, she did the same with Sokka. As well as the rest of the gaang, that is everyone except Suki and Zuko.

The moment she thought of the fire bender her thoughts had become consumed just like the element he yielded. He challenged her and confused her, but she would be lying if never thought of him romantically. He had let her touch his scar. That was even more intimate for him than a kiss. She blushed at the thought. What was going on with her? She remembered his lips rough on her forehead. Zuko's warmth surprised him, and while she understood him better she didn't consider She didn't appreciate the new thoughts of the fire prince. Have you ever considered, her thoughts spoke to her, that these are not new thoughts, but thoughts that your subconscious has kept hidden from you?

She shook her head and brown waves flowed behind her. She would have to leave her paradise soon and prepare the night's meal. She looked up and took a deep breath, enjoying the last few rays of light. Keeping her head up, she raised her eyes and watched the sunset. She felt as each wave crested and crashed against the shore. She watched as the sun touched the horizon. She felt something tug at her consciousness. She looked up at the beach where they had set up built sandcastles earlier that day to see Zuko staring down at her. He shifted his gaze towards the horizon where fire and water were touched.

AN: Up next we find out about Toph and Zuko's chat as well as Aang and Sokka's.