*Post- Southern Raiders. I own nothing. Italics indicate a thought in characters head. Please review! I hope you enjoy it!:)*

She sat on the dock of Zuko's family's beach house, looking out to the sea where she could tell a strong and violent storm would be rolling in any minute now. She had been there for quite some time now, thinking about her mother. Thinking about that shell of a man who she used to think of as a monster. Thinking about how she was too weak to kill him, too weak to kill Yon Rha, too weak to avenge her mother. That was what bothered her the most, thinking that she was too weak to avenge her.

"She's probably really disappointed in me right now." Katara thought to herself, "She probably hates me for being so weak." She said quietly to herself, not thinking anyone would hear her. That's why she was so surprised when she heard a voice behind her.

"Your mother does not hate you," a deep, raspy voice, belonging to Zuko, said to her, "If anything, she loves you even more now. What you did took a lot of courage, Katara."

"But I didn't kill him," replied Katara, "I didn't avenge my mother, I failed her." She muttered.

"No, you didn't." said Zuko. "It took a lot of courage to spare that man, Katara." He continued, "After everything he had done to you, it took a lot of courage and willpower to overcome your feelings of rage and spare him." He sighed, "You have more courage than I could ever hope for, Katara."

Just then, the storm had rolled in, and the whole sky turned black with the clouds and the wind picked up speed. Thunder was clapping, and lighting was striking through the skies like a dagger. Then the rain came pouring down, and the tears that Katara had been fighting to hold back suddenly came pouring down her face. She stood up, turned around, and ran right into Zuko, now sobbing uncontrollably. She hugged him, and dug her face into his chiseled chest. Right now, Zuko was the only person she wanted to talk to her, the only one she wanted to see, the only one she wanted to…. everything.

"Oh Zuko," she sniveled, "I just feel so weak. Why couldn't I do it? Why couldn't I just finish him, give him what he deserves? I just don't understand."

"Katara," he replied, "It's not that you couldn't do it, it's that you knew better. You're better than him, stronger than him, and you proved that to him, me, and the entire world when you let him live. You are not weak. You're one of the strongest people I have ever met in my entire life, you're an amazing girl."

She continued to cry into him, and he could see that there would be no stopping of it soon, so he picked her up and began walking to the beach house.

"Come on," he said, "Let's get too bed, we'll have to get up pretty early to pick up Sokka, Suki, Toph, and Aang tomorrow." He whispered to her as he entered the bedroom. He set her down on the bed, turned around and began to walk away to his own room.

"Zuko," Katara called to him, "Do you think you could," she said as her voice began to die down.

"What?" he questioned, "What is it? Anything for you."

"Well, I was just going to ask you, if you could sleep with me. Just for tonight. You don't have to if you don't want too." She replied.

Zuko smiled, "Of course I can." He said to her as he lay down on the bed with her. He wrapped his arms around her, allowing his unusually warm firebender body to warm up the ice-cold girl who lay next to him.

Katara smiled, "This is nice" she thought to herself, "He makes me warmer than any old blanket could." But that wasn't the only thing on Katara's mind.

"I really like Zuko," she thought to herself. "I like how he doesn't question me about the bloodbending. Like Aang did after I saved him and Sokka from Hama. I like how he isn't trying to force me to forgive that monster, like Aang did. I like how he thinks I'm brave and courageous. He's the only one that understands me. I really do like Zuko after all." She smiled again to herself, "You know what? I think I actually love him."

"Zuko?' Katara whispered.

"Yes, Katara?" he heard him mutter.

"I've forgiven you." She said to him.

"Well I'm glad to hear that." He chuckled.

"And Zuko?" she called out, "I love you, and I think we're meant for each other, as crazy as that seems."

"I love you too, Katara. I really do. Ever since Ba Sing Se. I love you more than anything."

"Then can we be boyfriend and girlfriend?" she asked him.

"Yes," he said, "As long as you promise me something."

"What is it?" she asked.

"After this war is over, if it ever ends, would you marry me?" he said as he pulled out a necklace and placed it around her neck. It was made of two stones, one that was as blue as the ocean with a carving of a lion turtle, and another that was as red as a rose with a carving of a dragon.

"Oh Zuko! Yes, yes I will marry you!" she said to him as she drifted off to sleep, with a huge grin on her face.

*Okay, yes, I realize they are a bit young to marry. But this is fanfiction, so I mean, whatever works works. Please don't kill me! Reviews and requests are always welcome!*