Hello lovelies :) It's nice to see you all as we begin the story of Katara's and Zuko's complicated relationship. This is my take on what would have happened if they had chosen each other instead of Mai and Aang.

-Im here to enkindle courage. :)

She knew it really began before the end of their group; before the end of the time of war. But she was too preoccupied to really talk to him about the look behind his eyes or the look behind her own. She couldn't figure out her feelings for Zuko but she knew they were different than her feelings for Aang. The feelings for Aang were familiar; her feelings for him were not. And in that short amount of time, and with so much on her mind, she never considered what they were.

Once, before Katara left home, Gran had told her about the feeling of duty and love. When Gran had been in the north still, she was betrothed to a man she did not love, but he loved her. For a while, Gran thought the feeling of duty was actually her feeling of love. But while she was in the market one day, she met a stranger from the southern water tribe. This man stirred her heart and swept her away to the southern water tribe weeks later. Gran had wanted Katara to learn that just because she feels the need to protect someone else's feelings, does not mean that that is the right feeling. Being unhappy with who you are with is not fair to you nor is lying to the person you're with fair.

Why hadn't she remembered that sooner?

Her feelings for Aang were simple ones. She felt the need to protect him from everything, even though she knew perfectly well that he was capable in battle. But what she feared was how truly naïve he was about the world. Things were different than before he was the Avatar; before he was lost for a century. So she felt she had to be near him to protect him. And the fact he was younger made things difficult for him. Many people didn't respect him because of his age. Many times she had to freeze someone who threatened him or worse. While growing up, she had the same type of feelings when it came to protecting Sokka. But soon he grew out of needing her to help him and act like his mother. So when she found Aang, the feelings brought back past ones. She thought that that meant love. And with Aang's kisses and hugs and the fact he was the fucking Avatar… well, she didn't think everything was a coincidence. And with that that in her mind, swirling around, she never really stopped herself to think that maybe these feelings of protection were not actual love. Even if she had, she would never have said anything to him before the defeat of the Fire Lord.

But then were her feelings and thoughts of Zuko that would twist and turn into her mind at night when she lay awake looking upward. There had even been unspoken moments between the two that hinted at the thing she could not figure out; moments where they just stood staring into the eyes of one another until one broke off and walked away. It was usually Zuko who did this and would walk past her, slightly shaking his head. But the thing was, he would always look back. And he would always smile and she would truly smile back at him. She would, in the moment, consider this a moment that every friend had. She and Aang shared these moments, but he would leave and not look back. And she was fine with it. The belief that this happened with all friends came from the fact that she had only three and one was blind. She really had no idea that these actions meant more. But looking back, she realized that the ones with Zuko had meant more. For whenever he didn't look back at her, she would feel like there was a missing piece. She would call his name and then he would look. Amusement would fill his eyes and his smile as he looked at her. She didn't realize that the feeling she felt in her stomach meant something.

She didn't know that the reason she was so angry at him when he first joined was because of how badly he had betrayed her. She had told him about her mother and he didn't even care.

She also didn't know why she was so upset when she heard Sokka tell her of the girlfriend, which tried to kill them before, Zuko left behind.

She didn't even realize that she was falling in love with him as soon as her trust for him came back; after they found her mother's killer.

She didn't even feel the love in her heart after he opened his eyes when she looked down at him after Azula had struck him. She didn't realize the relief of him being alive filled her with more joy than she ever had had.

Even on the way back to the other, when they hugged; when she rested her head on his should and he put his arm around her.

But she knew, right when Aang kissed her when they were alone in her room in the Palace in the not-ruined section, the night of the defeat of the Fire Lord, what the difference between love and duty were. And her 'love' for Aang, was only one filled with duty. She knew now that the little Aang no longer needed her protection; no longer needed her to watch him. She suddenly felt very empty as she was kissed by him. And then he appeared in her mind.

She had always known that Zuko could protect himself; in fact sometimes he even protected her. When the rocks fell in the air temple, he had saved her life; she never thanked him. She had to tell Aang this, before she told Zuko. Even if Zuko didn't feel the same, she wouldn't lie to Aang.

So she pushed him away as he kissed her in her room. He glanced into her eyes, obviously confused.

"Aang… I…I can't. I'm sorry." She felt tears streaming down her face as she looked at him.

"Why? You…you seemed fine before. Did I do something wrong?" He looked even more confused.

"Aang, no! It wasn't you, it was me. I…I honestly thought we belonged together. But…we don't. Can't you feel it as well? Everything is forced between us. Are you even happy this way?" She stopped crying and looked into his eyes.

Sighing, he put his hands to his head and slid down the wall to sit. "It's not supposed to be like this. I was supposed to beat the bad guy to protect the girl I love. And then I come back and we can be together, finally. But you're right Katara. You're the first girl I've ever felt anything for. I wanted to try to get it to feel natural. I wanted…to try. Can't we at least try?" He looked up, knowing to not put much hope into his wish.

I'm going to break him. I need to etch away some of the pain. Even if I explain everything, I have to keep quiet about Zuko. That will destroy him. God, this hurts me more than I thought it would. "Aang…. I don't think we can try anymore. It's been a long haul for us and I think we need to meet more people before we think about… this. I mean, you're 13. We're just kids. Can't we just be kids?" She kneeled down to him and smiled. She wiped away a tear that fell from his eye.

"Katara, you're of marrying age in like 6 months. It's just my age, isn't it?" He looked down; his age suddenly meant something to him. "And you want a man. You don't want someone you feel you have to look after. You've done enough of that. You need someone to look after you. Right?"

Katara sat down beside him. "I don't know Aang. Honestly, I don't know what I really want from life yet. I mean, I had never even left the water tribe area before and the next thing I know, I'm traveling the world. It's been a long time since I've really thought about anything I want Aang. I kinda just went along with what everyone wanted. Until Zuko took me to search for my mom, I didn't really do anything I really wanted. He kinda reminded me that it was okay to go after what I want." She looked away from him; ashamed she brought up Zuko to the boy she just 'broke up' with.

Aang stood and helped her. But what surprised her was the smile he gave her. It was genuine and true. "Katara, I tried to 'grow up' faster to be with you. But you kinda made me realize that I still want to be a goofy kid, even though I'm the avatar. I want to run around and play. I want to be with the people I care about, too… but I guess I got too far ahead of myself. I still love you, Katara. But maybe at this point, I'm not really ready to express it or live in it. I'm 13 and I'm not ready for you. I get it. I just wish we figured that out before we kissed. It will be… harder now. But I understand, Katara. I'm sorry too. So stop crying. You look funny with a red face." He laughed and she did too. She hugged him, truly glad that he understood her and that she hadn't broken him.

As they walked to the door of her room, she hugged him again. "Thank you, Aang. You'll always hold a place in my heart."

"No. Don't do that Katara. It won't be fair to the person you truly love. They deserve your whole heart, not parts of it. I'll be okay. I'll be…upset for a while… but I'll be okay." He smiled and turned to leave, but stopped himself. "But promise that if things don't turn out with Zuko and if I'm older, can we try again?"

Katara froze. How does he know about Zuko? I just figured that out like 20 minutes ago.

He laughed. "Katara, I was actually surprised it took you so long to realize you felt something for him. And when you brought him up, I knew that he won against me. It's okay. But promise?"

"Yeah, if I'm still alone when you get older, we can try again. Goodbye, Aang."

He smiled and kissed her on the cheek, "Goodbye, Katara. I'll see you in the morning." And then he left, walking to the direction of his room.

She closed the door behind him and looked around. The moon had just risen. It must have been nearly midnight. But she knew she had to go and do something before she back out.

She stepped into the hall and walked toward Zuko's room.

And so we begin our first steps, on what will be quite the complicated tale. So please still around, I'm sure you'll enjoy the ride.

Read and review :)