I'm not really a Zutara fan and I never believed Zutara had a chance, but this is the one part in the whole series where Zutara was the strongest, so I thought I'd write what could've happened if they took this part a little farther. oh! and this is my first fanfic, so please be kind in your comments :)

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Avatar

As Katara and Zuko flew home from that horrible place they found the murderous creature who took her mother's life, Katara felt a huge burden lifted off her shoulders. It turned out Aang had been right all along. Killing really isn't her thing, and she hoped it would never have to be, no matter how disgusting and evil the person may be. It was not her place to be the judge and executioner. That slimy maggot would get what's coming to him when this war is finally over. Katara took comfort in that.

Zuko landed Appa on the island they've been hiding out on for the past few weeks and Katara jumped off. She left Zuko and Appa in the large clearing they landed in, and walked off by herself to the beach. She loved the beach, not just because it was full of water, but because it was a good place to think. She found a comfortable spot in the sand and sat. She hugged her legs and thought about how she had almost done it. She had it within her power to end that man's life, and she didn't. She tried to convince herself it was the right thing to do, and also couldn't stop thinking about how the world would be better off if she only had the backbone to do it. She was so lost and confused.

After a while, everybody came to find her sitting all by her lonesome. They stood behind her not knowing what to say. Katara sensed they were waiting for her to speak first, so she said what was on her mind. "I was there. I looked into his eyes, and I wanted more than anything to do it, but I couldn't." She frowned. "I don't know if it's because I'm too weak or because I'm strong enough not to, or…" she trailed off not knowing what to say next.

"You're not weak, Katara," said Aang, "You found it within yourself to forgive him and that's the hardest thing to do."

"But that's just it," she replied, "I didn't forgive him. I will never forgive him." She stood up and faced the gang; the people she considered her family. Then she turned to Zuko, the one she had taken all her hate out on. The one who had put up with her despite her horrible attitude towards him and even went to extra mile to ease her suffering. "But I am ready to forgive you." And with a quick motion, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. Zuko hugged her back with a tenderness Katara never knew he was capable of.

***

After Katara had apologized to everyone for being so reckless and blinded by her own rage and for putting everyone in danger, she found herself being overwhelmed by what could've happened if that whole thing went wrong. If they had been captured, Aang would probably come looking for them and perhaps even be captured himself. Zuko would be turned over to his father and imprisoned for life or maybe even executed. And with the Avatar in chains, and Sozin's Comet's arrival, the Fire Nation would then be unstoppable. She couldn't believe she could be so reckless.

She couldn't bear to be around and look at the sources of her guilt any longer. Just looking at the people she loved and what she could've done to them was too much. She waited for everyone to be distracted with other things, and then she ran to where no one would find her. To the only place on this island she felt secluded and alone, because that's just what she deserved to be. Alone.

The island was a pretty good size. Large enough so that if she wanted to hide and not easily be found, she could. There was a section of the shore that was made of cliffs about a hundred feet high. At the bottom of these, there were a series of caves created be the erosion of the water constantly beating on the cliff walls. Most of the caves were too small to accommodate a person, but there was one in particular that was. She discovered it when she was practicing her water bending. It was a lucky find because its entrance was always covered with water except at very low tide. She was pleased to see that it was still covered. She bended a path through the roaring waves opening the entrance for her and her alone. No one else would be able to get in except Aang, but he would have to find it first, and she was the only one aware the cave's existence.

After clearing the water from the entrance, she then had to crawl up into it for about 6 feet, and then the cave curved downward again where it collected water like a bowl. There was a higher ledge on the cave walls that acted as sort of a walkway. Kind of like the side walk on the edge of a swimming pool. It was the perfect secluded area for a water bender. As soon as Katara released the waves and allowed them to crash back against the entrance, the entrance flooded, separating her from the outside world.

There was very little light in the cave; just a faint blue glow from the entrance, but not nearly enough light to see her hand in front of her face. The natural swimming pool was calling to her, so she started to undress. She removed all the black she wore to the Fire Nation, and decided to remove her under garments as well. Now there was nothing between her and her precious water. She dove right in only to be shocked at how freezing the water was. She thought about it and concluded that water sitting in a dark cave with no access to sunlight would have no way of heating up. After sitting in the water for several minutes, she slowly got used to it.

Finally she felt right at home, surrounded with water in the dark with no connection to the outside world. That horrible murderer had said that he killed her mother for claiming to be the water bender and taking Katara's place. She wondered if that monster would have killed so quickly if he discovered it had really been a little girl he was looking for.

Katara bended a small stream from the pool and coated her hand with it. If her mother had died to protect her and her ability, then using it for good would be the best way to honor her mother's memory. Suddenly Katara remembered the reason she came here. She had abused her ability and used it for revenge. She also put everyone in danger by doing so. And she was so selfish and hateful, she unleashed all her anger and bitterness on Zuko simply because he was Fire Nation. All the guilt and shame overwhelmed her and she wept. She could hear her tears splashing in and soiling the perfect pool that was her sanctuary.

Okay, I know there's next to no romance in it, and it's really depressing, but I promise it will get better in the next chapter. Please comment!