Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

A/N This chapter is going to encompass the entire first week of ZK month, and the following chapters of this ficlet will do the same each week of the month. Enjoy?

She sat alone, drenched in darkness- save the solitary candle burning on her nightstand. She stared at the flame as it flickered, melted wax dripping down the side of the stick at a pace so slow she lost herself in the anticipation of when it would pool on the wood at the base. She knew the shadows the fire cast on her face were eerie, based on the billowing black silhouette on the ceiling above her. She knew she would appear like a spirit in the light, eyes hollow in the shade and hair in a tangled heap as it fell down her back.

Sleep evaded her, just as it did every night since Sozin's Comet passed four days ago.

The war was over. They won. They were safe. So why did she feel the agitating nag in the back of her mind to wake at midnight in the midst of a nightmare, light her candle, and stare at it like it held some hidden message for her to find? Like a warning harbored in the orange and gold as it flickered in front of her eyes?

It all started after the first time she had the dream. On the night after the Agni Kai. She was in the middle of the courtyard, red sky overhead and oversized blue and orange flames dueling in an intricate dance that could only be pinpointed as deadly. And beautiful. Her eyes were always transfixed on a lone silhouette in the flames, holding his own and pushing back. Then it was suddenly all gone. He was on the ground, muscles spazzing with foreign electricity. Pained groans leaving his thin and paling lips reached her ears and she couldn't move to help him. Her feet were frozen to the ground, watching as his body slowly stopped moving and his arm dropped from his chest. Every single time, it would land with a thud against the cold stones under him and it was then that she could finally move.

But she was never fast enough.

Boots slapped against wet stones and concrete as she sprinted to the prone body in the center of the courtyard. Her heart was in her throat, stomach in knots. She could literally smell the singed ends of her own hair. Feel her eyes burn with the heat and sweat fell down her face at a rate faster than her feet were moving her.

But she was still never fast enough.

She reached him, immediately smelling the blood and the burnt flesh of his wound. It was so real, like it was actually happening right in front of her eyes all over again. She tried to ignore it when she cradled his limp head and gently rolled him over, but the sight of the starburst blossoming in the center of his otherwise perfect and marble-like torso caused her to sob. She could feel her eyes begin to tickle with imminent tears, though she knew they would never fall.

Looking around, she realized there wasn't enough water close enough to help him. It was dry as a desert in this plaza, all the water used up and gone.

But somehow, she conjured up enough to use on him and gloved her hands as she hovered them over his wound. She squeezed her eyes closed and willed the healing waters to flow through his every single vein, to close the gaping hole under her bloodstained hands. But he still didn't move. His staggering heartbeat was already too faint under her hands, too uneven and unsteady. She could feel him fight, but it almost seemed like it wasn't enough. He was fading under the red sky and the glow of her water.

And that's when she would wake with a sob swallowed and trapped in her tight throat. The tears she thought wouldn't fall were trickling down her cheeks and dripping onto her duvet.

Then the ritual would start; lighting the candle and staring at the flame and waiting for some type of epiphany to arise in her mind until impatience or irritation caused her to either go back to sleep or lay in her bed and stare at the ceiling until the sun lit her room. It wasn't the actual dream that baffled her. It was her reaction. A crushing pain her chest would stay until her heart calmed and reminded her that it wasn't real, no matter how much it seemed so. She was always slick with sweat, like the flames were still licking her skin, and the stench of boiled blood lingered in her nostrils longer than she thought was possible. Her body was literally panicking. And it was because of what she had seen.

Zuko dead, right in front of her. And there was nothing she could do about it.

That was the worst part.

She didn't react like this when Aang had actually died at the hands of Azula's lightning, so why did she when her mind conjured a false ending to when Zuko was struck by the same hands? This time she didn't have Spirit Oasis water to save him, if he had died like Aang had. Zuko had redirected the lightning for the most part. Except it had passed through his heart, like he told Aang not to do. He had suffered because he rashly moved to protect her. This is what she always told herself when her mind got to this part.

Just the actual thought of him dying was hurting her more than when Aang had actually been dead in her arms. She didn't wake up in the middle of the night, tears falling down her face and sobs struggling to escape her with the mere thought of Aang being gone. It only felt this way when she thought of Zuko being in that position.

Her room was stifling, too hot and stuffy for her tastes. So she threw her heavy duvet off her feet and licked her thumb and forefinger before snuffing the candle's fire in between them. Quickly, she stood and grabbed a robe she borrowed from Zuko off of the dresser near the door, slipping it on over her bindings and tying it before she went to the door and made her way outside.

She slid down the hall with a quietness akin to a slow flowing stream, the large borrowed robe floating behind her as she rounded each corner that brought her closer and closer to her destination. The corridors of the Fire Nation palace were silent, the only noises being the occasional guard walking nearby and the sound of a breeze floating through opened windows. For some reason, it made her feel like she was a ghost passing through the halls. No one paid heed to her presence, not that she passed many people on her mini journey. The palace was practically barren after Azula banished almost every servant and Imperial Firebender in the building. So running into an unfamiliar soul was unlikely.

Not that running into a familiar one was any more likely.

Sokka sent a hawk that arrived two days prior, announcing the defeat of Ozai and the liberation of Ba Sing Se. He, Suki, Toph, Aang, and an incapacitated Ozai should be arriving by airship sometime tomorrow, along with Iroh and some of the members of the White Lotus.

So until then, she would be alone. Well, not really alone. Zuko was here. But he really wasn't in the best shape to be wondering the halls with her at odd times of the night. She had half-dragged, half-walked him into the abandoned palace and up to his room, where he unceremoniously fell onto the mattress with a tight grimace and dreadful groan before he passed out again. For a couple of hours, they went through several tiring healing sessions, wasted time by playing a game of cards that he called 'rummy', and discovered hidden snacks he had stuffed in one of the drawers of his nightstand. It wasn't until the High Sage knocked on the door and delivered Sokka's message that either of them left the room. He moved her over into the room next to his, which according to him had been an empty bedroom since before he was born. Staying together in his room, no matter how practical at the time considering she needed to be nearby, was improper. She blushed at that very thought.

Now she has rarely seen him, just randomly running into him when she decided to explore the corridors of his home or finding him in his new office pouring over the plans of his upcoming coronation. But those meetings were scarce, now that he was running the place. And since she started having these dreams, seeing him felt like the only relief she could get from the nagging in her heart. She couldn't explain it, but his presence was the only thing that eased her. Even if it was sparse.

Bare feet brought her to a garden, the same Zuko had brought her to a few days prior. He said it was his mother's garden, where he would feed turtleducks with her and spend many afternoons of his childhood when he wasn't doing lessons with his private tutor or going through firebending lessons. And it is beautiful.

Even in the cloud-covered moonlight, this place emulated a serene majesty that calmed her fraying nerves. Tree branches swayed in the wind, while the scent of flowers that lined the walkway cutting through the center of the open courtyard filled her nostrils. In the darkness she couldn't fully appreciate the sight around her, but she could spot one definite thing. In fact, it was the only thing she could see now.

She tried to remain silent as she approached him, a dark and familiar silhouette sitting in the grass under the lone sakura tree in the center of the lawn. He looked tense as he stared into the rippling water of the pond in front of him, his lips tight in a small frown as his hands picked at the hem of his pants. When she reached his side, he didn't look up or acknowledge her presence. It was then she knew he was certainly distracted.

"Can't sleep?"

He jumped, snapped his head up and stared at her with wide golden eyes, momentarily shocked, before he relaxed and sighed as he ran his hands through his unruly hair. "No. You too?"

She sat next to him and stretched her legs out in front of her, propping her arms behind her and resting all of her weight on her palms. "Not at all. I had a bad dream."

"You want to talk about it?"

Glancing over, she saw he was now looking at her with softened concern. Like he always did. She shrugged and shook her head. "There's nothing to talk about, really."

"Katara, you can talk to me about anything. You know that, right?"

She nodded and looked back to him. In his eyes was patience, and empathy. Something she knew that was reserved for her. She had seen his short fuse and apathetic nature before, but it was never directed at her. Not since he joined their side at the Western Air Temple. Even when she had spat at him with sarcasm and distaste, he never gave her a look but the one he gave her now.

"It's just..." she paused when her voice cracked. How could she tell him about the pain she felt when she awoke from her nightmare? How, even though he was sitting right next to her with lively eyes and worry etched all over his face, she feared that this was all a dream and the image of his empty body came to the forefront of her mind every time she looked at him? How she thought that confessing all of these things to him would be like admitting her weakness?

"Katara, what is it?"

"I-" The sob she swallowed earlier tried to escape her throat and tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. Now that she was sitting here with him, she couldn't help but relive the helplessness she felt the night of the comet. Along with the alternate ending of the duel from her dreams. It felt like he was just a ghost right in front of her, about to disappear into the wind with a simple touch of her shaking fingers. Her heart seized and fluttered painfully in her chest, hammering against her ribcage like it was fighting to break free.

She didn't realize that she had begun crying until Zuko wrapped his arms around her and buried her face into his chest. She felt him cringe in pain and discomfort at the contact, but he seemed to ignore it as he held her tighter. He rubbed circles in her back and hushed her softly, all while she shuddered and cried into the thin silk that barely cover his torso. She inhaled with a shaky breath, taking in his all-too-familiar scent of smoke and sweat, and tried to calm herself. He was right here, holding her. Alive and well. So why was she acting this way?

They sat in silence for a while, an amount of time Katara lost track of, and once her breathing calmed Zuko slowly stopped stroking her back. He adjusted his grip on her and rested his chin on top of her head as he whispered, "Okay, now you really need to tell me what's going on."

With a sniff, she pulled away and wiped her eyes and nose of any incriminating tears. She looked into his eyes, smoldering and wide as he waited for her answer, and she inhaled deeply before she replied, "It's nothing really. I sort of overreacted, that's all..."

"I know overreaction and that wasn't it," he stated tersely, his eyebrow pulling down as he put his hand on her shoulder. "Now stop lying and tell me what that was about."

"I... well..." She glanced away, another sob trapped in her throat, and looked to the pond where the reflection of a partially cloud-covered moon rippled with the breeze blowing by. "I keep having this dream... It's of the Agni Kai and..."

"It ends differently than what really happened?"

Katara whipped her head back to his, her eyebrows shot up to her hairline and mouth agape. "You too?!"

Zuko nodded once and looked to the pond, his hand leaving her shoulder and going back to play with the hem of his pants. His lower lip was worried between his teeth when he mumbled, "I keep dreaming that I didn't get the lightning-" his hand when up to his bandaged chest and traced the area right above where his new scar would be- "and you got hit instead... And I couldn't get to you in time to help you..." He turned his head to her slightly, his hand flexing on the white gauze, and smiled sadly as he murmured, "But when I wake up, I'm always reminded that I did."

Nodding, Katara brought her gaze to his hand and the bandage underneath it as she whispered, "I dream that I didn't heal you in time... It's the same every time. I'm frozen in the same spot and I can't get to you... And when I finally do, it's too late." She cradled her head in her hands and continued with a rushed mumble, "And I can smell the blood and your burnt skin like when it really happened... And every time you're already gone by the time I can finally do something..."

"I'm still here, you know."

She glanced up at him with a slight disdain, partially insulted at his tone. But instead of apologizing, he shrugged and looked down to his lap again.

"You and I both know that we survived that fight because we had each other's backs," he responded quietly, his fingers gripping at the air. "I accepted Azula's challenge for the Agni Kai because I knew it would be the right way. If we both had gone against her, I would have been too busy worrying about you to pay attention to her."

Katara's throat constricted again and she felt another stray tear leave her eye. But before she could hastily wipe it away, Zuko's thumb came up and dried her cheek. She cast him a grateful look and he just smiled before he ran his hand through the grass in between them.

"Trust me when I say what I did was worth it," he murmured, his voice wavering slightly.

Her mouth moved before she could think. "What do you mean?"

His eyes darted back to hers and locked her in her spot; the gold glowing the night and shining so raw she couldn't look away. His admission was right there, lingering on unsaid words and whispers in the wind. The emotions he seldom wore on his sleeve were out in full force right in this moment, the truth like the breath leaving the slightly parted opening of his lips. She knew what he was going to say, before he even said it. And the way his hand unconsciously took hers and held it tightly, she knew her suspicion to be right.

Why she felt so broken at the thought of losing him. Why she felt lost when her mind cornered her into thinking it to be the truth. Why the relief at the sight of his face washed over her heavier than any water she could bend. Why when he touched her, it was nothing like she ever felt before.

The look in his eyes and the way he still held her hand spoke more words than the ones he was about to say. And when his response left him like a breath of fresh air, she breathed it all in.

"Because you are worth it."

Katara felt herself slowly leaning forward, unconsciously, towards Zuko when he had said those words. And he was doing the same, his lidded eyes now looking to her parted lips. Their noses were practically touching when Katara felt her eyes start to close and her heart began to hammer up into her throat. But just as she felt breath fan against her face, the sound of clanking armor and a shout jolted them apart, like they both had been burned by the others' touch.

"Prince Zuko! Your Highness!"

A growl vibrated in Zuko's chest and he cleared his throat before turning towards the approaching voice and glared at the offender. His good cheek had a dusting of pink and it was lucky that it was so dark out, Katara thought to herself. Just as the guard reached them, Zuko straightened his short robe and snapped, "What is it?"

The man visibly bristled before bowing at the waist and speaking in a rushed and breathless tone, "My liege, the airship with your allies and Phoenix King Ozai has arrived at the royal docks. The High Sage has already sent two carriages to bring them back to the palace through the private path on the west side of the island."

Zuko turned back to Katara and locked eyes with her for one moment, every ounce of unspoken words right in her sight, and they exchanged a silent agreement before he tilted his head towards the guard and replied, "Tell the remaining servants to prepare the guest rooms in the north wing and for the cooks to whip up a lot of food... And for a heavily guarded caravan to bring Ozai to the Capital prison as soon as they arrive. I'll send orders over by hawk to tell them what to do with him."

There was a quiet 'yes sir' and the guard hustled away, leaving the two benders alone once more. Zuko looked to his hands in his lap and cleared his throat once more before standing and brushing off his pants. He held out his hand for her and said quietly, "We better go inside. I'm pretty sure once everyone gets here, they'll want some food and hugs."

Katara grinned, all thoughts of what transpired forcefully pushed to the back of her mind, took his hand, and giggled as she stood, "That's true. Are you sure there'll be food for us this early in the morning?"

Zuko shrugged and led her inside, his hand still holding hers, and replied, "I'm sure the cooks won't object if its an order from me."

With a nod, Katara looked down to their joined hands and frowned. Suddenly, she stopped and took her hand out of his grip and hugged herself, ignoring Zuko's puzzled stare back at her. Her mind leaped back to what had happened moments before between them, what it meant and what they would do now. She was about to open her mouth to speak, but Zuko walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Listen, we can talk about... what we were talking about before once everyone gets settled in and we have some privacy, okay?"

"Zuko, I don't think we're going to have any privacy any time soon..."

She glanced up and saw him worry his lower lip between his teeth before he screwed his eyes shut and sighed. He quickly leaned forward and pressed his lips against her forehead before he took her hand again and silently led her inside. She tried to ignore how her cheeks and the tips of her ears burned and how her heart was once again trying to burst out of her chest. Now was not the time to be mulling over a little kiss on the forehead, since they were on the way to reunite with everyone.

Once they entered the corridors, she could hear the approaching steps and familiar shouts of their friends. And just as they rounded the corner and spotted them all, Zuko finally let go of her hand.

tbc