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The young girl's delicate knuckles rapped against the hard surface of the apartment's smooth door, her lips pursed and her feet dancing impatiently on the concrete step. "Coming," a melodic voice called from far away inside. The mother of two, with elegance of a queen, glided to the door, unlocked it with a quiet click, and turned the brass doorknob. The door opened, a pale yet elegant beauty smiling down at the child with big, eager eyes. "Hello, dear."
"Hi, Mrs. Ursa!" the six-year-old chirped, a dazzling, wide grin on her face. The clearest ocean blue depths looked up at the woman whose face had become as familiar to her as her own mother's. Hope and excitement danced like fireflies in her eyes. "Is Zuko allowed to play?"
Ursa nodded politely. "Why, yes. I think he is, Katara." Silky, dark hair swayed around Ursa's shoulders as she waved her hand about in a circular motion. "Come on in." As Katara bounced herself inside, giggling, a caramel face turned to observe the premises. To her right, the polished wooden floor took a step down into creamy carpet, where the living room was isolated in a square section of walls. A long, brown leather couch, pressed up against the dark railing behind it that fenced in the living room. A wide, HD flat-screen TV faced the front of the couch. To her left was a white tiled linoleum floor with red diamond centers that glittered like rubies under the golden kitchen lights. An obsidian island stood in the middle, surrounded by matching counters. Cherry wood cabinets were lined with gold trimming, glittering under the warm glow of the kitchen lights. Past the living room and kitchen was a long hallway that led to the right side of the apartment, where the bedrooms and bathrooms resided. "Zuko, my love! Katara's here!" she called. An amused smile lifted her lips, reaching her eyes as she heard the footsteps thump in a rather expedited fashion across their floor.
A grinning eight-year-old dashed out of the hallway, skidding across in his white socks. Zuko sported a dark mahogany sleeveless shirt and pearly basketball shorts. His pitch black hair was tied up in a small ponytail, sloshing about as he skidded to a halt. "Hey, Katara!" His high-pitched voice rose, waving eagerly at her.
"Zuko!" she returned his wave, her eyes dancing with excitement. "Do you wanna play?"
With an odd tranquility, he sauntered over to his bright white sneakers by the door, strapping the velcro over the shoe. "Sure..." as he rose to stand straight, a grin spread over his cheeks, the challenge lighting a fire within his amber orbs. "Let's race!" Zuko declared, and not a moment later sprinted out the door, giggling. He was determined to win this time. Every single time it was Katara that won, but this was not going to be one of those times! His heart thudded in his chest with the impending victory that he could almost feel, teasing his fingertips.
The small brunette frowned. "Nooo cheating!" she whined, quickly breaking into a run. Her hair in its own braid bounced as she soon caught up with the older boy, her eyes narrowed in determination. She wasn't going to lose, especially not to a cheater. Her lean legs soon came into speed, feet flying against the asphalt. The distance between the children was quickly eaten up. In no time, she had caught up to him, she realized with a confident smirk. She turned her head as she started to pass him, sticking her tongue out while scrunching her nose. Zuko's eyes widened as he watched in dismay while she sped up in front of him, outrunning the afternoon bikers, even. 'Wow, Katara is so fast,' he thought. 'Why can't I run as fast as her...'
"Wait up!" He cried out, now pushing with everything he had, fighting with every cell in his body. The race wasn't over yet... he would win. He had to.
"Meet you at the ice cream stand!" Katara called back to him, deaf to his cry and waved her hand as she dashed off, no longer in view. Zuko's brows furrowed as he pushed past the burning in his legs. They had been best friends for as long as he could remember, and he wouldn't want anyone else to race but her... even if he did lose every once and a while.
About five minutes later, Zuko arrived at the ice cream vendor, hunched over, hands gripped onto his knees. Sweat dripped off of his forehead, his breath coming in short pants. He looked to the girl sitting on a bench, rather patiently waiting for him, a leg crossed over a knee and her foot bouncing. She smiled at Zuko, oblivious to the condition he was in. "Hey, Zuko! Want a popsicle?" she asked casually, much to Zuko's annoyance.
Zuko nodded, too tired to be envious of how relaxed she looked. She hopped up, walked to the stand, stood on her tippytoes, and placed a pocketful of dollar bills and change that she had retrieved from her denim shorts on top of the counter. "One strawberry and one blueberry popsicle, please, Mister." She smiled at the friendly vendor.
"Coming right up, Miss Katara," he smiled back. From the ice bin behind him, he removed the popsicles, handing them to her and wishing her a good day. Katara handed the pink icy popsicle to a Zuko that was still catching his breath on the bench. A small giggle bubbled from her when she sat next to him, hearing the relieved sigh escape him. Zuko was producing so much heat, however, that the popsicle began to melt onto his hands. The temperamental boy scowled, then whipped his head to glare at his companion when she burst out laughing. He huffed, deciding it was pointless to resist as he licked the strawberry-flavored treat.
By the time Katara and Zuko had just finished their popsicles, the soft sigh of nature filled the park with hues of pastel pinks, purples, and blues, glowing from just behind the tree line. Long minutes passed between them in comfortable silence.
"Zuko?" a soft voice murmured, feet swinging off the bench as her eyes stared into the cement ground. She gently chewed her lower lip, a thought gnawing at her.
"Yeah?" He, too, stared below, though he stayed perfectly still.
"Do you think we will be best friends forever?" She turned, an expression of concern etched into her young features. She had to know. Who would she play with if she didn't have Zuko anymore? Who would she race with? Certainly not Sokka. He was always off doing…Sokka stuff.
But she never wanted to imagine a life without him.
He gave her a reassuring smile that melted away her fear, and her shoulders slightly slumped as she eased up. Zuko looked at the seat in his search and grabbed her hand, giving a gentle squeeze. "Forever," he assured her. She smiled, convinced, and squeezed him in a big hug. Hearts warmed at the sight of pure, innocent love. Even the setting sun seemed to smile at them before it nestled into its blanket of darkness.
She pulled away from him after a while. They were having so much fun, she didn't want the day to ever end. "We should go home.." she stated with a slight reluctance. There was always tomorrow, she reminded herself. And the day after, for forever.
Zuko smirked. "Race ya?"
xXx
Katara arrived home, giggling with victory at her second win for the day. "I won~! I won~!" She sang, dancing in. "Oh yeah, that's right! I won~!" Her sweet laugh rung off of the walls, a fuzzy feeling tickling her insides. "Mom! Dad! Sokka! I'm home!" She raced upstairs, following the soft scent of lavender coming from her parents' bedroom. Katara ran in, the smile fleeing her face as she saw her mother lying in bed, her face twisted in pain. Hakoda held his wife's hand, while Sokka stood by and stared at his ill mother. Her heart pounding now in her ears, she could feel the darkness of the room trying to swallow her up from the inside out. She didn't like this feeling, the twisting in her gut. She did not like it all. She wanted it to go away. Upon hearing her enter, Hakoda turned around, seeing his younger child's eyes rimmed with tears. "D. .Daddy?" she swallowed, her fear rising and causing her chest to tighten. "W-What's wrong with Mama?"
"Katara... come here," he whispered to her as he swept his arm out. Hesitantly, she followed his request. The little girl's body started to tremble as his arm wrapped around her tight, pulling her into a strong, comforting embrace. She had never seen her mother so frail, so weak. Her mother was a warrior, the picture of strength and kindness. "Katara, sweetheart," he started, rubbing her shoulders. "Your mother is very, very sick. She..." he sighed, gathering the strength to admit the words out loud, to his children, "has cancer." Hakoda took her tiny hands into his large, calloused hands, searching her eyes for some kind of inner peace he could create for her. Something to protect her heart for what would come. But all he could see was betrayal, sadness, and confusion. "Right now, we have to be here for her, and let her rest. Hakoda took a deep breath, "She may not be able to be here much longer, sweetheart."
No… no! This couldn't be happening! "Mama!" Katara screamed, collapsing on top of her mother, clenching onto her blanket, sobbing. "Don't get sick, Mama," she pleaded helplessly. "I can take good care of you! I-I'll make you cereal, and chicken noodle soup so you'll be all better again. Okay?" She looked up at her mother who was sleeping heavily, the frail pieces of her fragile heart threatening to shatter with the last breath that would come from her mother.
All Katara wanted was to hear her mother's voice, telling her that everything was going to be alright. "Mama… I'll do anything. Just... please. Don't leave us.."
'Don't leave me.' she begged.
Sokka walked up behind Katara, hugging her tight. Feeling so helpless as a brother, there was so little he could do to protect her. "It'll be okay, Katara." Normally, whenever she was sad, he could crack a joke, just to see her smile.. but he didn't have the strength. Shimmering tears rolled down his face, and as hard as he had tried to fight it, it came, holding back the chokes in his chest.
xXx
Zuko bounced a slime green ball off the floor, which hit the wall and landed back in his hands, over and over and over again. The tedium of boredom grated on his mind, like the constant, slow rubbing of sandpaper. It was tiresome, being cooped up in the house. Katara hadn't been over to his house in a week, and when he had called her numerous times, her father always told him she wasn't feeling well, but to keep checking back. He went over with a get-well bouquet of pandalillies to cheer her up, because he knew those were her favorite kind. She had thanked him, but her face was worn with sorrow, and the sweet ring in her voice had vanished.
What happened to her?
The eldest son of the Lee family caught the rubber toy in his hands. It was torturous without her, staying home with his sister. . .he felt the emptiness of his best friend not being there, only relying on his mother to be his company while dad was always out doing business. He wanted to do something more for her. Seeing her so upset made his gut wrench and twist, like a clown thought his insides were meant to be balloon animals.
A soft knock sounded at his door. "Come in," the eight-year-old called, still bouncing his ball absentmindedly.
His mother walked in, her eyes tinged with red. She was sniffling, which made her son freeze, his heart squeezing in alarm. "Zuko, sweetheart, there's something you should know," her voice held a hollow echo. Zuko knew what she was about to say would be important, so he sat up and put the ball down on the bed. The bed sunk slightly as Ursa sat next to her precious boy. She took a deep breath, repressing the shudders that wanted to rack her body. "Katara's mom has been very, very sick, my love. The illness that she had was hurting her from the inside, and it kept growing." A delicate hand reached out, rubbing small circles onto his back. "Zuko... Katara's mom passed away this morning."
Golden eyes widened. Zuko felt his heart stop beating within his chest.
What?
Died?
Gone?
It couldn't be. That didn't make sense. Her mom wasn't old.. she was just sick, right? People get sick all the time. He crawled over slowly, seeing his mother so sad. He did not know what to do other than to hug her tight, desperately trying to steal her sadness away.
She wrapped her arms around him tightly, water droplets falling over her face. The kind, beautiful woman had become one of her best friends, and now. . .she was no more. It reminded her that any moment could be your last. Ursa thought of Katara as her second daughter, and a heavy ache sunk her heart into the pit of her stomach at the thought.
Poor girl, she thought solemnly, hugging her child closer.
xXx
"What?!" Zuko roared at her, the girl wincing.
"Do you think I like moving either, Zuko?!" She yelled back. The last week for her had been Hell. First, her mother died, and now she had to move away from the only place she'd called home. She gripped her petite hands into fists, frustration boiling inside of her. "I have to go."
"No! You can't leave!" his voice shook at his declaration. He grabbed her shoulders, his face twisted in anger, in pain. "You have to stay, Katara!" he demanded.
Katara looked at him, water spilling out of her dull sapphire eyes. Her lower lip trembled as broken words left her. "I'm sorry... I guess it wasn't going to be forever." the hollow whisper left her, sniffling softly as she twisted herself gently from his grasp and ran to the car, crying into her hands. When she got in, she quickly wiped away her tears, but they kept coming.
Zuko felt his heart crumble. It struck him like a lightning bolt through his chest. Sudden, instant, searing pain. Leaving his throat dry for words, falling on his knees. His blood turned cold as he watched their car drive away, vanishing from his view.
They weren't meant to be forever.