Chapter 1

So, this is how I think Avatar: The Last Airbender should have ended. I never really thought that the end was very realistic and of course it went against my OTP. This is kind of my own little form of wish fulfillment. It's starting right after Azula was trapped by Katara.

FYI, this is my first ever fanfic. Let me know if you like it! I'm uploading it now before I lose this little burst of courage….

Obviously I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of the characters in it.

Katara POV

I didn't look back to check on her. I couldn't focus on her. I spun around and ran toward his curled and twitching form. Was he breathing? My own breaths were short and my chest felt it had a ten ton weight on it. He was moaning in pain and his face twisted in a tight grimace. I pulled the water out of my pouch and laid it on his chest. I felt the energy flow into his chest and through his body. I watched as his face relaxed and slowly fell into a small smile.

He reached out and grabbed my hand and I felt that weight fall away. I felt tears well up in my eyes and I felt a sob escape my throat.
"Hey," he whispered. I couldn't say anything. I just grabbed him and held him tight. I didn't think I could let go. I would never forget the sight of him jumping in front her. She would never forget the figure he had cut curled up and surrounded by the bright blue of Azula's electricity. She didn't relax her grip on him until she heard a scream of rage from behind her.

I helped him up and let him turn to see his sister. She was enraged and blue flames poured out of her mouth. My arm was still supporting him and I wanted to hold him, but I didn't. I could feel his heart breaking and I didn't hold him. He turned away from her and nodded to me.

That's when we were swarmed by the fire priests. Two of them rushed forwards and grabbed Azula's chains.

"Lord Zuko, we are so glad to have you back home."

"Your Grace, I will have your suite ready as soon as possible."

"Prince Zuko, I have sent out some emissaries to the White Lotus and Father Zume has made sure to open our doors to the Avatar and his party."

I stepped away and let Zuko stand alone and look the part of a strong prince. I grinned at the sight of all those old men groveling before him. He was trying to get them stop bowing and to not wince at the pain at his side. One of the younger priest crept over to my side.

"My lady… Can I help you with anything."

"Don't worry. Just get Zuko inside quickly. Azula managed to injure him during the fight."

"Of course. We will get Prince Zuko back to his suite," he assured me. He stressed Zuko's title as if to scold me.

"Katara. Can we go in? Aang might be back soon." I could tell that he really needed to sit down, so I hurried over to his side and put my arm back around his waist.

"What about me, Zuzu? Are you going to leave your poor baby sister here? And you religious twats? I'm your Fire Lord. Unchain me. I want to roast that stupid water peasant." Her words fell into gibberish after that. The priests dragged her away and I pushed Zuko towards the palace. We started to walk up the stairs, but I could feel him shake with each step he took.

I bent a platform of ice under us and lifted us up the stairs. I sat him down on of the chairs in the front room and when I straightened up he grabbed my hand.

"Thank you," he whispered, before his hand fell away and he slumped into the chair.

The room was cold and I wanted to light a fire for him. I smiled at this thought. I had gotten used to a blaze at night or when it just got too cold. I never learned to light the flames. Sokka would usually build the fires before Zuko came along, but they had always been a little weak. I grabbed one the throws from the sofas and placed it over him and then sank down deep into an armchair across from him.

The priests burst into the room at this point and started squawking at me. They demanded to know why I had rushed away and scolded me for moving the prince away from Zuko.

"The prince just fought a big battle. He needs rest now and maybe some more healing. Don't bother him until the avatar gets back." The men shrank back from me and I was a bit shocked myself. I marched them out the door and went back to stand over Zuko. I moved the blanket off him and repeated the healing processes. He was so exhausted that even the touch of cool water didn't wake him. When the skin seemed to be coming back and I was sure that there wasn't going to be any scarring, I lifted the blanket back up and tucked him back in.

I lay back down on one of the long sofas and fell asleep.

"KATARA!" I awoke to the sound of my brother's voice and when I opened my eyes I found his nose was practically touching mine. I rose from the couch slowly and he threw his arms around me.

"You're lucky I was able to keep him away from this long. I convinced him that you needed some rest," Suki said, smirking. The room had managed to fill up while I slept. Sokka finally released me and I got up and gave Sukki a tight hug. Toph came over and punched my arm and Aang grinned at me over her shoulder. Zuko was up and his side was all bandaged up.

"Hey, you," I whispered.

"Good morning," he mumbled back.

"We're alive!" I exclaimed. I spun around the room and it just felt good. I collapsed on the floor and started giggling. Maybe I was just a little crazy at that point, who knows. Then I looked up at Aang. "And how did you manage that?" Aang told me about his battle with Ozai and Sokka gave his dramatic rendition of Mission Airship. I told them about how Zuko had managed to beat Azula. Zuko didn't seem like he wanted to talk. Maybe he was being modest, maybe he was just tired, but I don't think he wanted to talk about how he had destroyed his sister. Aang looked between the two of us strangely, especially when I talked about how Zuko had jumped between me and Azula.

That's when the priests came into the room with a group of servants. They served a kind of picnic dinner. We spread out on the floor to eat and laugh. I looked around at their smiling faces and realized that we might never again sit around a fire eating like this. The era of the our little rebellion was over. My eyes met Zuko's over the lavish meal and I knew he shared my thoughts and we shared a sad smile. I couldn't believe that I had hated him so much. He was so dear to me. I may even-

We got up after the meal and went to actual rooms. I turned around to find Zuko standing in the middle of the large room. His back was turned to me and he was staring into the fire. Past him, I could see a large portrait of him and his family. His mother's hand resting on his shoulder. With his dark hair and red clothes he belonged in that room. He was going to be the Fire Lord soon. I didn't belong in that room with him. I felt like a pretender in my patched and frayed fire nation clothes.

I spun on my heel and dashed up the stairs to follow the servants who were taking us to our rooms.