"This is kind of nice, having our own place," Katara said as she balanced a melon in each hand. She and Zuko were at the market while the rest of the gang was relaxing at the beach house; once the skepticism had worn off about hiding at the Fire Lord's old beach house, they'd settled in quickly. "It's almost like the apartment in Ba Sing Se, except without a creepy servant breathing down our necks."

"Creepy servant?" Zuko helpfully grabbed one of the melons and placed it in his own basket.

"Joo Dee. It was basically her job to make sure we didn't find Appa or get to speak with the Earth King," Katara said resentfully. "That too-white smile of hers still haunts me!"

"Sounds pretty annoying," Zuko said. "Uncle and I never had anyone like that to bother us."

"You were lucky." Katara selected a few oranges and placed them into her basket. "Hey, Zuko? I'm still curious about one thing."

"What?"

"If your sister hadn't shown up when she did, or made you that offer, would you have actually joined our side then? Your uncle seemed like he was trying to talk you into it."

Zuko closed his eyes. He didn't like to remember that day, his betrayal of his uncle and the fall of the strongest city in the Earth Kingdom.

"I don't know," he sighed. "At the very least I wouldn't have made the biggest mistake of my life." He combed through the cabbages, checking to make sure the ones he picked didn't have slugs. "What about you? If I'd decided to join your group back then, would you guys have let me?"

Katara smiled.

"I can't speak for the others, but I know I would have given you a chance," she said. "You know, Aang told me something interesting back when you were first trying to join us."

"What?"

"He said you helped him back when he was trying to find the cure for Sokka and I, and he wondered if you two could've been friends in different circumstances," she said. "That day in the cave...I wondered the same thing. You seemed so different from the terrible person I always saw you as." She put down her basket. "I'm glad the answer was yes. You may be a little reckless and dramatic, but you really are a good person, and we're all really glad to have you on our side at last."

Zuko put down his own basket and took her hand.

"Thanks, Katara. It means a lot to me to hear you say that."