Katara waited for the footsteps to sound behind her in their usual slow rhythme. He should have been there by now, since the moon was high in the sky. He had said to meet tonight hadn't he? Katara began to hypervenalate as she paced along the rivers edge about a half a mile from their campsite. A rustle behind her nearly made Katara scream in horror, but then she saw that it was Zuko.
"Where have you been?" Katara raged at him with her cruelean eyes accusing him harshly. Zuko shrugged and took another step towards her.
"Your brother was pestering me. I couldn't leave with him acting all suspicious." He informed her and yet again took another tentive step forward. Katara looked away from his enchanting golden orbs.
"You could have warned me somehow instead of me standing here freezing." She huffed and drew up a small drop of water to flick at him. It turned into steam as soon as it hit his bare arm. He smiled and stepped toward her once again.
"What was I suppose to do? Say hey Sokka let me go tell your sister that I can't meet her tonight since you will find out." Zuko replied sarcastically. Katara rolled her eyes and drew up another sliver of water up from the silver river. She watched it swish over her fingers in the bright moonlight.
"No, but you could have slipped me a warning or something." Katara mumbled and flung another droplet at him that splatter against his sleevless crimson tunic he was wearing. Zuko just ignored the water stain and closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her waist in an warm embrace. Katara sighed and sunk even deeper into Zuko's arms as the silver moonlight washed around them.
"Enough. I'm here now." Zuko said and silenced Katara with his lips. The fireworks errupted in her mind as Zuko's lips warmed against hers and his tongue feathered above her bottom lip, asking for entrance. Katara parted her full lips in wanting and nearly melted when his tongue entangled with hers. They broke apart as a faint rustle of leaves sounded behind them. Katara peered around and Zuko's hands tightend around her waist. After a couple minutes of silence, they both relaxed. Katara turned towards Zuko while shaking her head.
"I wish we didn't have to sneak around. Just walk into camp holding hands, and kissing me goodnight instead of everyother night meeting in some secret spot away from the others. Making excuses and lying." Katara said as she stroked Zuko's scared cheek absently.
"There's a way, Katara." Zuko whispered and kissed her lips before pulling something out of his pants pocket. The flash it made in the moonlight had Katara curious so she gently took it from Zuko's hand and nearly fell over. It was a gold topaz marbled stone with red glitter etching of the waternation love symbol. It was strung on a red ribbon that was silky smooth in her palm.
"Katara, I know this is sudden, but you are my love. I want to be with you forever and after this war you are gonna be the new Fire Lady and most important, my wife. Will you marry me?" He asked as Zuko gently tied the necklace around her neck and kissed her cheek lovingly. Katara was speechless as she fingered the pendant and looked back at Zuko with tear filled eyes.
"My answer is yes. I love you Zuko so much!" Katara cried and Zuko laughed as she jumped into his arms and he lost his balance. They fell backwards into the cool river with his lips on hers and the silver hung around them.