Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in the show Avatar

"Zuko, baby, what's wrong?" Mai asked while stroking Zuko's hair. He had seemed pretty distant for the past few days and she couldn't figure out what was wrong so she went to cooing at him. He swayed his hand and and tried to get her off but she didn't comply.

"Oh come on. You've been like this for days and you refuse to tell me why. I'm your girlfriend and I deserve to know." Mai placed her hands on her hips and pulled back from him. He turned from the window he was sitting at and glared at her.

"I am the fire lord and do not need to tell you anything. Now get out of my bedroom." Zuko pointed an annoyed, angry finger at his door. Mai huffed, turned on her heel, and left. Of course she would be back tomorrow but maybe then he'd be out of his mood. As soon as the black haired woman shut the door Zuko sighed and sat down.

He knew he shouldn't have burst like that but he didn't want to deal with her nagging. He ran his fingers through his hair and then rested his head in his hands. Why did he have to think of her? She had come back into his dreams a few nights ago and the thought of her wouldn't go away. Of course he knew why but he wasn't supposed to be with her. He didn't belong with her because though they weren't mortal enemies any longer, they weren't on the best of terms. Well it was better terms than a year ago when if he had even given it a thought he would have questioned his sanity.

The lord lifted himself from his chair and went and laid on his bed. Zuko's eyes shut as soon as his head hit the soft pillow. He was laying with his arms spread and legs slightly spread on the bed. The scar across his face didn't bother him any longer. He thought he looked rather nice with it while he had his hair down. Mai didn't appreciate it as much and kept her hands away from it as much as she could.

"Why do you have to plague my thoughts, Katara?" Zuko asked out loud to no one. His eyes closed and he allowed his mind to wander.

-Outside the room-

Mai had been listening to his movements to see if she could find out anything but nothing came until she heard him lay on the bed. There were a few movements then stillness. She pressed her ear harder against the door to get as much as she could without it opening.

"Why do you have to plague my thoughts, Katara?" She heard him sigh out. The woman pulled back from the door with a glare. So that's who he was thinking about. Mai's suspicions were true and she would have that child murdered for it. No one was going to take her Zuko away from her. She had royalty and everything she wanted and a girl from a water tribe wasn't going to steal that away.

The black haired woman stormed off to her bedroom and slammed the door shut. She ran to her desk and began plotting how she would do it without Zuko figuring out till last minute and how she would make it look like she was the victim. Mai had the perfect plan already.

(With Katara)

"Hey Katara, what's wrong? You seem sad." Aang asked while sitting next to his girlfriend. He was worried because she had been very quiet for the entire day. The brown haired girl shrugged her shoulders and poked at the fire with a stick. Her chin rested in her hand while her elbow rested upon her knee.

"Well I'm here for you if you need anything. You can talk to me, I won't judge you. I'm just worried that's all." Aang placed a hand upon her shoulder. Katara froze and then shrugged his hand off. Then she stood up and looked down at him sitting on the log.

"Well there's nothing to worry about, okay. I'm just not in a mood right now." Was Katara's icy reply toward his statement. Aang felt his heart drop as he watched her throw the stick to the side and walk off. Sokka had seen the entire thing and walked over to his forlorn friend. He took a seat next to him and sighed.

"Hey, she's been like that to everyone all day. I don't know what happened but I'm sure tomorrow she'll cool down. It probably has nothing to do with you do so don't worry." The 16 year old Sokka said. Aang nodded his head and stood up to go talk to her. He found her sitting with Toph, their blind friend.

Aang wasn't one to spy, but he didn't want to interrupt so he waited. Maybe he could figure out something about why Katara was acting the way she was. The avatar leaned against a tree and listened to the two talk. Toph and Katara had gotten closer as time had passed and now she was confiding in their earth bending friend.

"I know it's not right, Toph but I don't know how to stop it." Katara sighed. He heard shuffling and sneaked a glance to see that Katara had moved to sit beside Toph. The younger girl just waited until she knew that the older girl had stopped moving.

"Well you don't want to hurt him and it has been a year. What has he done wrong?" Aang knew it was now about him and so he listened better than he had been before.

"He hasn't done anything wrong. He's been great but...well it changed before we were even together." Katara said. Aang felt a slight pang to his heart but waited to hear more.

"Then why did you go out with him?" Toph had become really wise within the year and though she still acted like a child she was smart and in tune with everyone's feelings.

"Because I knew Zuko and I didn't stand a chance. We were polar opposites and Zuko probably didn't like me in the first place." Aang felt his heart tear at that. Sadly he kept his hopes up because he was just hoping that she would say something better next.

"I had a dream about Zuko last night. Nothing flashy or romantic but we were just sitting and talking about our mother's. He has yet to figure out where his is and I was just talking of memories but then entire day I haven't been able to get him out of my head. I know I love him, because every time I see him my heart melts but then it breaks when I see Mai come up and hug him around the waist." Katara whispered. Aang had strained to hear it and when he did his heart tore into the tiniest of pieces.

So she didn't love him...she loved Zuko. A tear trailed down Aang's face. The avatar left to go to his bedroom as the two girl finished their conversation.

"I don't want to hurt Aang though and so I won't go after him. I'll be in a better mood tomorrow and I'll live with myself. He's done so much for the world and I do love him...but only in a friendly way." Katara stood up, along with Toph, "I'm glad you listened Toph."

"Yeah, now listen to yourself." Toph said. It didn't come off as mean but as wise and intelligent. The blind girl walked off and Katara headed toward the house that was behind them the entire time. Aang had walked the same way and had forgotten they would meet up at some point.

They did as soon as they reached their doors. Aang had the tear the depressed look off his face and he noticed Katara's smile was a little strained. She walked over to him and hugged him to which he hugged back with all his strength.

"Aang, I'm sorry for how I was earlier. I just wasn't feeling well and I felt irritated with everything. Can you forgive me?' She asked. The water bender felt him nod his head and she pulled back and gave him a kiss on the mouth.

"Goodnight, Aang. I love you." Katara said. She walked over to her door and opened it.

"Goodnight, Katara. I love you too." Aang whispered the last part and then headed into his bedroom and went to his bed to sleep. The avatar, bender of all four elements, tried and tired to sleep but he could not. He got up and went to Katara's room where he found her in the same state. She was sitting on the edge of her bed in her nightgown.

"Hey, can't sleep either?" Aang asked. He heard her gasp and look over at him. She gave a half smile and nodded her head. The avatar didn't blush as he sat down next to her.

"What's on your mind?" She asked. He sighed and shook his head, meaning he didn't feel like talking about it. "Are you sure?"

"Why didn't you tell me, Katara?" Aang sighed while looking away from her.

"What do you mean?" Katara asked and placed an arm on his shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell me about Zuko?" His voice sounded bitter and sad. The brown haired girl removed her and placed it in her lap. She then looked to the side with a sad look.

"Because, there was nothing that would ever be done with it. I had a dream about him and just some feelings of when he and I were talking came back. Him and I wouldn't go together and I have you, the avatar." Katara tried to reassure him but he didn't take it.

"As great as having the avatar sounds, I'm not the one you love. I'm only your friend, I guess, and if I'm that then I want you to be happy...I do love you Katara but I don't own you. You're not tied here." Aang stood up and started toward the door.

"He's tied there with her, though. And I do love you...but not as much as I love him." Katara went to stand up and follow but Aang held up a hand.

"I can't do this Katara. And I hate to do this to you but you're going to have to chose who you want because I don't want to share your heart with another man. I love you but I can only do so much. When you've decided then tell me but until then, I think it's best we have a friendship." The elemental bender then walked out of the room and shut the door.

A sigh escaped Katara's lips and she laid down, curled into a ball, and fell into a restless sleep.

Well that's the end of chapter one. I am actually pretty proud of this chapter. I'm already started on the second one and hope to finish it tonight, if not then tomorrow night. Well hope you enjoyed it.