Title: Home

Summary:- Sequel to "Judgement". Zuko's joined the gAang but is hiding his relationship with Katara. Things go all wrong when Azula offers him everything he can't have, forcing Zuko to find out the meaning of the word "home".

Disclaimer: To my complete disbelief and sadness even after "Judgement" I STILL don't own Avatar.

Iroh's POV

As I watched my nephew walk off the ship with Katara, I couldn't help but smile. He had found happiness and he had found a better way of life. He had finally found peace in one way or another.

Although I knew, with Zuko being as stubborn as he was, it wasn't going to be an easy start. It was going to be difficult and he was not going to be happy from the exact start but he'd live. He would be happy and remain happy at one point, or so I hope.

Unfortunately, neither he nor Katara knew what was about to happen. Their happiness torn, their home broken...

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Zuko's mind raced with thoughts but felt numb. As he walked with Katara towards her camp, he found it hard to believe that it wasn't all a dream. He couldn't understand why Katara wanted to be with him or how all of it happened so fast.

All of a sudden she stopped.

"Zuko," She looked a little nervous. "Can we not tell them?" She asked quietly.

"About wh-" He stopped, realizing what she meant. It struck him as a little odd that she wanted to hide their relationship, situation… whatever it was they were in. Is she ashamed? He wondered briefly.

"Only for a little while, so that they might not reject it all at once." She told him reading his expression. He nodded curtly figuring it might be the best plan for now. She smiled and kissed his scarred cheek before letting go of his hand. "Toph will be the only one who knows."

"Who?" He questioned.

"She's new. She's a blind earthbender who can feel everything. She knows when we lie or when our heart beats change." Katara could tell Zuko didn't like that idea. He never really did like anyone knowing how he was feeling. She let out a small laugh at his expression. "C'mon."

Sokka was playing nervously with his boomerang when they walked through the trees. He stood up, aiming his weapon at Zuko.

"Why are you here?" He demanded. "Leave Katara alone!"

"Sokka relax." Katara stepped in front of Zuko, blocking the path the boomerang would have to take. "He's with me." Sokka looked very confused before smiling and nodding in approval.

"You mean you captured the Fire Nation's Prince?" He shouted proudly. "Awesome!"

"No I didn't capture him!" She halted his victory.

"It's not like you could anyways." Zuko smirked. She gently hit his arm and told him to shut up.

"Guys, Zuko's going to travel with us." She said slowly, reading their reactions. Everyone was silent for a split second before Sokka freaked out.

"What?" He shouted waving his arms in the air. "Katara, he's the enemy! He's probably planning something! We can't trust him!"

"But you can trust me." She interrupted. "And I trust him."

"But Katara!" Sokka walked up to her. "Do you not remember that he captured you and held you hostage?"

"I'm not a moron Sokka, of course I remember." She took a breath before continuing. "He didn't lay one finger on me while I was there." They all turned to Toph and she shook her head. They always had to check with her now before they believed anything.

"She's telling the truth. He didn't touch her." She waited until they all turned back to Katara and Zuko before she whispered "Much."

"Fine." Sokka groaned and turned away sighing." A large smile spread over Katara's face before she ran up and hugged her over-protective brother from behind. "One mistake and he's gone!" He told her.

"Welcome to the gAang, Hot-Head." Toph smirked. He ignored her as well as everyone else except Katara. He walked up to her after she let go of her brother.

She gave him a warm smile and he had to hold his own back. She went to get something from Aapa's saddle. He watched her curiously as she walked back to him with a sleeping roll.

"No fancy, comfy bed." She laughed slightly. "Sorry." He raised his eyebrow and smirked.

"I thought I'd have to share with you." She just rolled her eyes and tossed the sleeping roll at him.

"Not this time." She smiled.

"I thought you'd return the hospitality I gave you." He took a step closer to her with a knowing glint in his eye.

"Well if I remember correctly, I started out in a cell." She told him smirking herself now. "So here's your cell." She turned away slowly, leaving him with a half smile on his face.

Zuko took a good look at where he would be and who he would be with now. Everyone seemed happy and peaceful even with him being there. Of course Sokka was giving him looks but it was still… nice.

Okay sorry I've been kind of M.I.A. for awhile. But I'm back and ready. I have everything planned out and I've started the next chptr already... I know I'm forgetting something I wanted to tell all of you (well other than thanking you guys for reading)... I just can't remember. Oh well.

Well I hope you guys enjoyed the prologue and I hope to have the next chptr up very soon.

I want to remind you guys though that in my profile I have fanfiction updates for you guys so you know where I am with the next chptr or why I'm being slow with updates.