Disclaimer – I do not own any of the characters, names of places or anything like that, they belong to someone else. Please don't sue.

This story is for Mads.

Katara lay silently in her room. The four poster bed, with rich Earth Kingdom silk sheets, was the first real bed she had ever slept in. She ran her hands over the soft material, her mind empty. The moon peeped through the wooden shutters and fell across her bare legs, uncovered by the sheets because of the hot weather in the Fire Nation. She was so unaccustomed to the heat that she had taken to sleeping in her undergarments, with her normal bed clothes sitting folded neatly on the mat beside her bed. She could take the heat no more. Katara rose and sat on the very edge of her bed, her hair falling messily over her chest and sticking to her skin. She absently flicked her hair behind her shoulders as she shifted her weight uncomfortably, her feet scuffing the rough floor loudly. She cringed, hoping that she woke no one, but then remembered how large the Summer Palace was. The closest person was Zuko, and his room was four empty stone walled rooms away. Katara pushed herself away from the hot linen and walked to door. She slipped her light cotton robe from the hook beside the door left the room. The large corridor she tiptoed down opened out into a brilliant garden, with a beautiful rock pool in the centre. Dew wet Katara's feet as she made her way to the edge of the pool, and the moon lit the garden softly. Katara let out a sigh of relief as she dipped her toes into the cool water. Dipping her fingers in the water, she drew long swirls along her legs, smiling as she watched the water run back down to the water tickling her lightly. She pulled water from the pool and formed a sphere, magnifying rocks and plants behind it. A light flickered into life behind the water, surprising Katara and causing her to drop the water carelessly back into the pond. She froze. What if someone sees me? She thought, remembering how little clothing she had on. The light died and the garden fell into darkness for the moment, as Katara's eyes adjusted to the light again. She relaxed her muscles and loosened her suddenly tight grip on her mother's necklace. A tiny firefly flew around the old tree across the pool, and Katara followed its careless flight.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?"

Katara spun around and found Zuko leaning on a moss covered rock behind her. She hastily gathered her robe about her, her cheeks burning.

"I'm sorry I frightened you," he said softly, his low voice soothing Katara.

"I… I…," Katara stammered.

"Shhh," Zuko whispered, pressing his finger to his lips. He took a step towards her, but Katara stepped backwards, her foot slipping on a damp rock. She pitched backwards, her arms flailing, and she caught Zuko's outstretched hand. His muscular arm pulled her away from the waters edge and close to his chest. His arms wrapped around her softly, embracing her completely.

"Thankyou," she whispered, her cheeks reddening again. She bent her head down to look at her feet, but Zuko released his hold of her and bent his neck to her eye line. He brushed his fingers under her chin, and held her face up so that he may look at her. Katara raised her eyes and met his gaze. She pulled his hand away and she hugged him fiercely, letting go of her robe. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she stood on her toes, trying to match his height. Zuko held her gently around the waist and closed his eyes, enjoying the embrace of someone he had begun to care for. Katara's hand slid along Zuko's neck to his face and was met by the strangely smooth skin of his burn. He took her hand away from the awful reminder of his past life, and interlocked his fingers with hers.

"Come back with me," he murmured.

Katara loosened her hold on Zuko.

"What?"

"Come back to the City Palace with me. I am leaving in three days to return home. The Fire Nation cannot rebuild itself."

Katara dropped her arms by her side.

"No, I can't. I have to go back to the Southern Water Tribe. To rebuild my home."

"Sokka is returning there. I want you here with me," Zuko replied with finality.

Katara frowned.

"My people need me." Katara was torn. She had planned to return to her tribe with Sokka and help her people become whole again, but she had never cared for someone as much as she did Zuko.

"I have to go home," she tried to convince herself, as well as Zuko.

"Your home can be with me," he murmured, stepping closer to her, and taking her hand again. Katara pulled away.

"You have important things you have to do. So do I," she said, becoming irritated.

"I don't see how you can compare stitching cloths together to make a roof to ruling a nation," he scorned.

Katara stood still, in disbelief. I thought he loved me. I thought he understood.

A breeze began to blow and Katara's robe rippled about her. Zuko stared at her, the moon illuminating every curve on display by Katara's summer night clothes. Suddenly remembering her dignity, Katara snapped her robe together and stalked back towards her room.

"Katara," Zuko called softly, "Katara!"

Her door closed with a dull knock, and he suddenly felt as though he had just been locked from her life.

As the sun crept out from behind the mountains, Zuko returned to his room. He had spent the night sitting silently at Katara's door, hoping that she would emerge and agree to go with his back to the City Palace. He slept restlessly until the sun sat high in the sky, and was awoken completely by the sound of a sudden wind blowing through the corridors. Recognising the sound of Appa taking flight Zuko sat bolt upright.

"Katara."

He pulled on his jacket and ran from his room into the garden, and saw Appa's white tail disappearing over the roof of his palace.

"Katara."

Zuko dropped his head, defeated. He would never have her. Dejectedly, Zuko returned to his room, where he found Iroh standing at the other door, holding a small piece of parchment. Zuko glared at his for a moment then turned away.

"You know, she left this for you," his uncle said. "But are you deserving of what she offers?"

Zuko turned his head, and stared in disbelief at his uncle. Cautiously he walked towards Iroh, and stood before him. Searching for any trickery on the old man's part, Zuko found that his uncle was smiling kindly.

"What did she leave?" Zuko asked eagerly.

"It was not my business to pry, Prince Zuko," he said slyly. "But I believe it is very straightforward." He handed the note to the young Prince and departed. Zuko unrolled the parchment to reveal Katara's message.

Follow me.