Well this is the first installment of a collection of McFly inspired Zutara one-shots. Enjoy! Please review.

Title: Falling in Love

Summary: Zuko is tormented by the memory of the girl that got away.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: the Last Airbender or it characters. I don't own "Falling in Love."

Author's Note: This is Falling in Love 2.0. I reworded some parts, added some things and I shortened the song.

"Everyday feels like a Monday.
There is, no escaping from the heartache,
Now I, wanna put it back together.
'Coz it's, always better late than never."

Something hot slowly crawled across my face. I groaned, and turned over. It persisted, slicing through my dream like a sword through a piece of paper. I groaned again, pulling the gray sheets over my head, but of course the sun's rays weren't going to back down without a fight. "Damn it!" I yelled, thrusting the covers aside. The sun beamed triumphantly down on me through the skylight in the roof. How the hell did life get this way?

Lately, I've been waking up in the afternoons, lounging around my house on Ember Island, doing absolutely nothing. I don't mean to sleep in so late, but something's been bugging me, taunting me where ever I go. It takes all my energy to ignore it, leaving me physically exhausted and mentally scarred. And since it's about another girl, I can't really talk to Mai about it. I have to fight this alone. But the sad part is: sometimes I don't want to fight it, I just want to drown in it.

Stretching the sleep out of my body, my daily battle began. How long can I last this time? How long can I keep from going insane? How long are you going to do this? Yes, you! Torturing me, haunting me in my dreams. Following me in everything I do. You're first thing I think about when I wake up. And now... today...

I looked over at the empty space next to me. Today... it's gotten worse... because today I wished it was you sleeping beside me, instead of her. I know, I know! How can I think about you when I'm with her? I ask myself the same question everyday. But sometimes, it feels like I've made the wrong decision. Like the humdrum of my boring life as Fire Lord wouldn't be so average if you were here with me. I mean, Mai's on vacation and I don't miss her at all. Isn't there something wrong with that?

"Saying, everyday should be a new day,
to make you smile and find a new way
Of falling in love.
I could've fallen in love."

I sat up. Only you can make me regret the choices I've made. Well, you and Uncle, of course, but Uncle's family. With you, it's different. You believed in me. You saw the good in me, when no one else did. Only you can make start asking myself "what if"? What if we'd been more than friends? What if we'd taken it further? What if I wasn't such a jerk and you weren't so stubborn?

We could have been great together, you and I. Sure, I once chased you around the world and tried to capture you, and sure, you once hated my guts and wanted me dead, but that all changed when I learned of my true destiny and you forgave me for my past sins. If anything, our history makes us stronger, because beyond all the fighting and betrayal , we still became close friends, we saved each other's lives, and we still have a connection…

Annoyed with myself, I got out of bed and started pacing. What's wrong with me? Why am I being so mushy? Why do I miss you so much? Why do I regret not telling you this? And why am I thinking about it now and not before when it all counted, when it could have made a difference, when you were still here?

Out of our minds and out of time.
Wishin' I could be with you
To share the view.
We could've fallen in love.

Needing some fresh air, I went outside and sat on the porch. The salty breeze felt good against my skin. I smiled, looking out at the seascape off Ember Island. The beach sparkled like someone had dropped a big bottle of Ty Lee's circus glitter in it. Little red snail-crabs scuttled back and forth across the sand and for a moment, as my mind wandered, I thought I'd been rid of you. Only to find a second later, there I was wishing I wasn't here on my own; wishing I was here with you and only you.

I sighed, dropping my head into my hands. This isn't working. I'm getting sick of the pain and I can't take another day of wondering. But, I can't tell you…can I? I mean, what about everyone else. I don't want to be the selfish jerk who ruins someone else's relationship just because he can't figure out his own. Aarg!! But living and not knowing is driving me nuts.

Sick of waiting, I can't take it, gotta tell ya.
Sick of waiting, I can't take it, gotta tell ya.

I can't take another night on my own,
So I take a breath and then I pick up the phone
She said…

After a few minutes of fighting with myself, and a few more seconds of convincing myself it was a good idea, I decided to write you a letter. You wouldn't need to write back, and it would all just be to clear my head. I looked up at the sky. Maybe this is what I need to do. Instantly feeling renewed, I stood up and turned to go inside, fully determined to end my suffering, when a loud squawk caught my attention.

Sick of waiting, I can't take it, gotta tell ya.

The owl-hawk soared through the air, and landed on my shoulder. There was a note tied to its foot. I pulled it off and the bird flew away.

Sick of waiting, I can't take it, gotta tell ya.

I slowly unrolled the tiny scroll. Suddenly, my breath caught in my throat as my eyes scanned the tidy script on the paper.

Sick of waiting, I can't take it, gotta tell ya.

Some of the words were smudged. Had you been crying... over me?

She said…

Dear Zuko,

I know it's too late, but I'm sick of waiting and I can't take it anymore. If I don't tell you how I feel, I think I'll just go crazy. I know I sound irrational, and completely illogical, but I wish I'd told you sooner...

We could've fallen in love.
I wish I'd fallen in love.