Night Time Meeting

Katara was staying in the fire kingdom for a couple weeks with Aang to visit Zuko. She had been enjoying her stay there and had slept extremely well in her guest room in the palace, until tonight. She couldn't fall asleep except for a few short periods of time which she would always awake from in a cold sweat after having a nightmare. The nightmares were always the same, yet different, about the war that just ended. Sadly though while staying in the palace she lost her mother's necklace when she took it off to bathe.

Meanwhile Katara was standing on the balcony attached to her guest room. The cool night breeze brushed against her face and calmed her after her latest nightmare. She was so consumed thinking about the dream that she totally missed the boy silently walk up behind her.

"Hello Katara." Zuko said in a quiet voice.

"Oh, hello Zuko." Katara said, startled. "What are you doing here?"

"Sorry, I saw you from my balcony and realized you were upset so I came over to comfort you." Zuko felt bad for startling Katara.

"Oh, it's no big deal." She told him, "Why would you come to comfort me though?"

"Well we're friends, aren't we?" Zuko asked, Katara nodded in response, "And friends comfort each other don't they?" Again Katara nodded, "So there's your answer, we're friends so I came over to comfort you."

"Okay, nice answer." Katara said with a slight chuckle. "One more question though, do you have any idea why I need comforting."

"I'm guessing it's because you lost this," Zuko said as he side-stepped behind her and lifted up her mother's necklace to put around the girl's neck.

"Oh my goodness," Katara gasped while touching the necklace as Zuko tied it on. "Where did you find it?"

"One of the female servants found it in the ladies bath house when you left." Zuko replied when he finished the knot and regrettably took his hands of the young girl's neck. Katara then turned around and hugged Zuko. Zuko surprisingly hugged back.

"You know what Zuko, I used to hate you. And now look at me I'm hugging you on a balcony in your palace during the middle of the night." She laughed, "I mean I can't believe how much everything has changed in such short amount of time."

"Huh," Zuko replied slightly upset about Katara mentioning she used to hate him, especially since that isn't at all like he felt for her, or ever really did. He never hated any of them; he was just trying to return his honor. "I can't believe how much it's changed either." Katara and Zuko stood there looking out upon the fields laid out before them and letting the breeze blow against their faces.

"Katara, I have something to tell you." Zuko said, determined to finally tell her what he truly felt for her.

"Yes?" Katara asked and turned toward Zuko to see what he had to say.

"Well, uh… IreallylikeyouKatara." Zuko said in a rush.

"What?" Katara asked looking at Zuko in confusion.

"I really like you Katara." Zuko asked and looked at her to see how she would react. "Katara?"

"Oh," She replied which made Zuko nervous. "I like you too." She said in a quiet voice.

"It's okay… I mean what?"

"I like you too."

"Oh."

"Yeah…"

"Well…" With that Zuko turned Katara to face him. "You really do?" She nodded, "Well then…" Then he leaned in to capture Katara's lips in a kiss. It was chaste and sweet and over much too quickly in both of their opinions.

"Actually Zuko, I have to be honest with you. I love you." She said breathing heavily when they broke apart.

"I'm so glad you said it first," Katara gave Zuko a questioning look. "I love you too Katara." He kissed her again. This time though it was more heated and passionate.

Pulling her closer Zuko pressed his tongue against her lips. But when she didn't give he nipped at her lower lip causing her to gasp and when she did he slipped his tongue in. And for the rest of the night they continued on with the like.