Katara stood at the harbor, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Her gaze was on the small waves caressing the beach.

Heaving a sigh she turned around looking at Appa, who was currently being packed by some servants.

She had been through so much. A year ago the biggest worry of her life was not being able to find a penguin to slide on, but now, she has grown. She has experienced true fear, seen true insanity, and had her heart broken countless times.

Today, she would just add another heart break to the list. She has to leave the one she has fallen in love with.

She directed her gaze to the palace in the distance, where a life could be waiting.

'But, not my life….' She thought as she looked away. She walked steadily towards Appa to help with the packing.

A warm hand grabbed her shoulder she paused, her body tensing, 'could it be?' She turned around to see the worn out face of Iroh, 'Of course not, he's way to busy to have time to say good bye to me.'

"Hello Iroh," she greeted, averting her eyes to the ground.

"Hello my dear, what has you so... blue?" He said, concern evident in his voice

A sad smile found its way to her lips. "Blue?"

"No pun intended, my dear. I just couldn't come up with another word." He explained

She nodded, "Nothing, I'm just tired." She lied

"Lady Katara," his hand grabbed her chin, moving her face until her eyes met his, "I know something more is to your sour mood."

"I'm fine Iroh, just waiting for Aang, Sokka, Suki, and—"

"I can tell you lying, Sugarqueen." Toph's voice interrupted.

"Is it my Nephew?" Iroh inquired

'They're teaming up on me!' She realized, panic suddenly taking over.

She decided that the truth would be the easiest path for her, "Yes, I wish he would see us off, but, I understand that he is busy being the new Firelord." Another sad smile found her lips.

"She's telling the truth," Toph said

At that Aang came running down the crowded street, in a flash he was standing right next to Katara a serene expression on his face, "Were almost ready to go, are you sure you have all your stuff?" he asked Katara

She was about to answer 'yes', when Iroh cut in, "NO! I forgot the departing gift, Katara why don't you go get it, it's in my study. Sometimes my age really shows."

Katara doubted that he really forgot; he and Toph seem to be up to something.

With a nod she set off towards the palace one last time before she left with Aang and joins him on his search for other Air Nomads. He insists that al least one has survived, something about this dream he had.

She heard the sounds of Aang trying to go with her, and Iroh finding excuses for him to stay, something about heavy tea crates needing to be moved quickly….

She turned the corner and Iroh's voice faded, along with Aang's. She walked the worn path to the palace, passing by merchants and shoppers.

Out of the busy market area she stepped into the path leading towards the opening gates. The Guards must have seen her coming from their look out tower.

Everything seemed like a daze as she approached the door, the tears threatening to spill as she thought about the man who now lives in that regal palace up ahead.

Something hit her abruptly, knocking her backwards slightly.

Looking down, she saw a child that had ran into her accidentally; she smiled down at him, helping him up off the ground.

"Are you ok?" she asked, dusting off the child's clothing.

He nodded, and mumbled something that sounded like an apology. Then he scuttled off down the path to where ever he was going.

She shook her head, a small smile gracing her features, continuing her walk to the palace she realized she didn't know where Iroh's Study was.

"I'll ask a guard or servant when I get in." she reasoned as she reached the front door to the palace.

Without hesitation she entered coming face to face with a servant, "Do you know where General Iroh's Study is?" She asked quickly

The servant gave her a weird look, "He does not have a study, but he uses the princes—I mean Firelord's study sometimes. Why?" she stammered, a sheepish smile covering her lips.

"Iroh sent me up to get some sort of departure gift," She explained.

"Oh! He explained that to me, go to the second floor, and the first door to the left from the stairs is the room your looking for." She pointed towards the stairs that were carpeted in red.

I nodded in understanding and started towards the steps, it wasn't that big of a staircase, thank the sprits, because I was getting tired of walking.

Reaching the top of the staircase, which was the second floor, I saw only one door on the left, walking up to it, I was relieved to find it unlocked.

It was an empty room save a desk in the middle. There was a lone paper on the desk, folded neatly.

She walked up to the desk and scooped the note up, unfolding it; she found the letter was addressed to her.

Dear Lady Katara,

I wish you well on your journey with the young Avatar; he seems excited to have you traveling with him.

But, I am writing this letter for a completely different reason. I was talking to young Toph, and she has noticed a special bond between yourself and my Nephew.

My advice to you is to follow you heart, it will never lead you astray.

Yours truly, Uncle Iroh

Refolding the letter in deep thought I walked out of the virtually empty room.

'Follow you heart? Does he mean what I think he does?' She asked herself, her brows furrowing as she walked down the hall way.

As she reached the stairs a voice came from the next set of stairs leading to the third floor, "—I Don't know…." The voice drifted off.

'I know that voice anywhere, its Zuko!!" I thought excitedly, 'should I go say good bye?'

Before I could talk myself out of it I walked up the stairs, "Zuko, I came to say good—"

Her heart sank as her eyes took in the scene in front of her.

Zuko was standing in the middle of the hall with his arm clutching his chest where he took the lightning for her. But, that wasn't the heart breaking part. Mai had her arms around him her lips locked with his.

The letter from Iroh fluttered to the ground as a soft gasp escaped her lips.

The small sound seemed to catch Zuko's attention, because his eyes snapped open, and focused on her.

He quickly pulled away from Mai, causing her to gasp out loud at the sudden departure.

Zuko backed away from Mai, "Katara…." Zuko drifted off, his eyes wide.

Mai turned around to see Katara at the stairs, her expression looked like someone had just taken away her mother's necklace, hurt and distressed.

Before anyone one could really react, Katara ran down the steps tears finally leaking from her eyes.

She knew she shouldn't be surprised to find Zuko with Mai. They were going out before he was banished. Besides Zuko and Mai belong together, she never had a chance with Zuko. He would never return the same feelings she has for him. But, she loves him regardless of that knowledge; so it felt like someone had torn out her heart to see the scene she had walked in on.

She could hear Zuko yelling after her, but she didn't stop, she couldn't. If she did she would make the biggest mistake of her life, she would tell him that she loved him. She wants the best for him, and a relationship with her would wreck his reputation, and jeopardize what he work so hard to obtain, his throne. She is willing to back down, and swallow her feeling for him, as long as he's happy.

So she ran.

She ran through the busy market place, pushing people out of her way, all the way to Appa, who was ready to leave.

She said a hurried good bye to Iroh as she climbed onto Appa.

"Aang go now!" She shrieked, her voice was hoarse, obvious that she was in tears.

"Are you alright Ka—"Aang began

"Just go!" Katara interrupted as Zuko became visible from the path as he pushed by the shoppers, just like she had, and towards the dock.

Aang didn't argue and cued Appa to take flight.

Katara turned around pulling her legs to her chest, and crossing her arms on her legs. Then she buried her head in her arms.

A sob racked through her body as she felt someone's light fingers touch her shoulder, peeking up she saw Sokka looking down at her with worried eyes.

"Katara, what happened?"

Toph interrupted, "She fell in love."

Then Suki added, "And officially meet Mai."

"How did you know about Mai?" Katara asked her voice tired, and her seemingly aged gaze landed on Suki.

Suki sighed, "What else could have happened?"

Katara merely shrugged, and looked back towards the harbor, and could make out the figure of Zuko and Iroh hugging. Mai no where in sight, then she reburied her head as more tears fell onto her cheeks.

She felt the familiar warmth from the embrace of a caring brother as she lifted her bloodshot eyes and took in the last few seconds of the setting sun.

The End

I was thinking of making a sequel, One from Zuko's POV.

Either that or another chapter from Zuko's POV

But, that depends on the # of reviews I get from the story, so please review!!