A/N: I own SQUAT!

It was the end of another summer on Ember Island. They had two more nights before they all had to go back to their realities.

Zuko would have to go back to the capital and be the Fire Lord his Nation needed him to be.

Sokka and Suki would return to the Southern Water Tribe and their three young children. Sokka has been under his father's tutelage for the past three years preparing to become chief.

Aang and Toph would go back to traveling the Nations to wherever they were needed most.

This would be the first year that Katara would join Aang and Toph on their adventures.

Shortly after the war had ended she had gone home to help rebuild and teach a new generation of benders from the south. But now that her home is a true sister of the Northern Tribe and the arrival of a new master to take over teachings, she decided that she needed more. Not that being back home with her family, rebuilding a tribe and teaching wasn't enough to fulfill anyone person there was just something missing.

Her family was not thrilled but they all understood. Sokka took it the hardest because he was losing his and Suki's free, any time baby sitter for their one year old twins, and three year old little Hakoda. Suki just elbowed him in the side and told him to be happy for his 'grown-up' sister.

So here they all were five years later, sitting around the fire on Zuko's private beach laughing and sharing stories as old friends do.

The night sky was clear and every star seemed to shine brighter for them as if the spirits were blessing them all.

Katara was lying in the sand propped up by her elbows. The reflection of the ocean and flames of the fire danced in her eyes. The moonlight made her skin shimmer where golden flecks of sand clung to her.

She really did rise with the moon, thought the Fire Lord. Zuko had been staring at her from behind the flames. He was enraptured by the way she came to life when the moon would rise.

She was laughing at one of Sokka's food centered comments and her sister-in-law smacking him in the back of the head.

Zuko couldn't help but watch Katara, she was memorizing. He decided that she had only become more beautiful over the years as she grew into a woman.

Every inch of her was calling out to him. The way her waist long rich chestnut hair gently blew in the warm summers wind and how that same breeze would carry her voice like a sirens song.

A fire was re-lit from ashes that he thought he extinguished years ago within him. The growing flames in his heart began to battle his conscience.

He broke the trance he was under by focusing back to the girl's conversation. He caught the end of it and was able to get the just of what they had been discussing.

The girls finally convinced Toph to spend the next day shopping for new outfits for the Summer Solstice Festival and Dance. Then to get pampered at the spa for the other half of the day before meeting up with the guys.

Both Suki and Katara had been on their knees pleading in the sand. As Katara and Suki would scoot closer to Toph their bodies were burying themselves further down. Toph, Aang and Sokka were hysterically laughing saying how both woman looked like the twins begging for another piece of seal jerky.

Zuko couldn't help but grin at Katara. Only at Katara.

By the time they accomplished their goal the girls had sand wedged in places where sand should never be.

Zuko watched as Katara got that devious look in her eyes. She raised a brow looking at Suki who nodded in a silent agreement.

Crap, what are they planni... before he could even finish his thought both woman had handfuls of sand and were pouring them on top of Toph.

Half laughing and half scolding them Toph yelled, "You two are going to pay for that!"

Katara and Suki keeled over laughing. They had wrapped their arms around their middles from the ache that had started to grow while trying to get away from the pissed off earth bender.

Before his girlfriend could get to them Aang swooped Toph up and ran with her bridal style into the water.

On cue Sokka grabbed Suki swinging her over his shoulder, stammering out, "This is what happens to grown women who act like little girls!" as they reached the water's edge he slid her down the front of his body holding her so she couldn't get away, kissed her nose, and winked. "Sokka don't youuuu…." He threw both their bodies into the next wave and joined the other couple in the water fight.

"Hey Sparky, are you gonna let Sugar Queen pull that crap with me and get away with it are you?!" Toph shouted from the water. "Aren't you supposed to up hold the peace in your own nation?" she added.

Katara stopped paying attention to the four playing in water and instantly stopped laughing and stared Zuko square in the eyes.

This was his chance to get close, really close to her perfectly sculpted body. Thank you, Agni for bikinis! He smiled to himself as he stood up and gave her that smirk that she could only get out of him.

"Of course Toph, what kind of Fire Lord would I be if I let this kind of behavior go unpunished?!" he shouted to the water without breaking eye contact with the water bender.

Good La he is tall. When did he become… sexy? Shit did I just say that? Get up Tara. Stop drooling. This is Zuko, only Zuko…crap that look, he is giving me that look. She could just about see his inner fire rising through his eyes. Stumbling backwards getting to her feet giggling under her breath, "Z-Z-Zuuukkkoooo…" she was now running towards the safety of her element, "don't you daaarrre!" when she looked over her shoulder he was already midair about to tackle her into the ocean. She had just enough time to take a breath before the both of them were submerged beneath the waves.

When she came up from his attack Zuko broke through the surface right in front her face. Their eyes locked instantaneously.

He mentally captured the way her wet hair clung to her bare shoulders and toned arms. How gracefully the sea fell off her long eyelashes when she blinked. How seductively it flowed down her neck to her full and curved breasts.

Calm down. This is Katara, for Agni's sake! Your best friend. Spirits she is beautiful. I love her smile. Her laugh...the voices in his head were at war. He was losing his control of his breathing. A swell of heat rising from his stomach to his chest. The water was masking the beads of sweat that were building at his brow.

The water parted for him to surface like a command. His muscular arms pushing his sleek hair back out of his beautiful face. It was like magic how his amber eyes reflected the moonlight off the water's surface. The water falling from his broad shoulders to is toned chest down to his carved abs and down the 'v' lines in his thin waist. It felt like she couldn't get her fill of the sight before her. She felt her face flush and began to warm as if the sun itself were in the sky.

His voice interrupted the naughty images of him in her mind.

"Now water peasant I hope you have learned your lesson for your traitorous acts against the most badass earthbender in all the nations." He stated trying as hard as he could to sound in his all mighty Fire Lord voice, without laughing waving his hand towards Toph who was cheering him on. He noticed the changed of color in her cheeks making his own deepen as he gazed upon her.

Katara raised her arms bringing the ocean up beneath her. She was now smirking down at him, "OH, really Fire Lord? And who do you think is the most badass waterbender in all the nations?" Before he could answer she placed her hands on his head and with the force of her element she sent him back into the depths.

Proudly snickering to herself she started to swim towards the shore. She barely made it five feet when he grabbed her ankle and pulled her back under the surface with him. They were swimming around each other like Tui and La in perfect harmony waiting for the other to make the first move.

Before they ran out of breath he lifted her back out of the water by her slender waist just above her deliciously curvy hips spinning her in the air.

Her teenage girly giggle was contagious. The very somber Fire Lord began to laugh. Neither of them notice the others return to the spot on the beach drying off.

Katara had flung her hair back and her head followed exposing more of her neck. Something inside of him wanted so desperately kiss her starting at her ear to the hollow of her neck. He was still holding her up but he had somehow he enveloped her with his arms behind her thighs. He stopped spinning and beheld the gorgeous sight above him.

When he stopped Katara brought her head back down and stared right into his eyes. The night around them seemed to stand still. All other noise had faded away to only their shallow breathes and the pounding of their hearts. The water's surface began to still and all was calm except what lies within each of them.

In silence he slowly lessened his grip on her body and let her slip down his bare chest not breaking eye contact.

As she descended down his warm slippery torso she placed her hands on his chest using his body as a guide. Her hands stopped on top of his scar that he received for her. She frowned at the memory of his sacrifice for her and how she almost lost him. When her feet meet the sand beneath her legs refused to hold her up right causing her to fall into his embrace.

They had never been this close before. This intimate. Every nerve in their bodies were acutely aware of the other. It was frightening and exhilarating all at the exact same time.

Looking up into his golden eyes she was for once completely loss for words. Both of their eyes searching in each other for the right thing to say.

Zuko could feel a something deep within him. His deeper desires fighting to be freed. He felt the lustful twinge in a part of his body that reminded him that he was a man.

In her mind she envisioned how it would feel for his lips on hers, having his strong calloused hands trace every inch of her body... with that Katara closed her eyes and let out the faintest of moans instantly looking back up praying that he didn't hear that.

Zuko reached up with one hand leaving the other glued to her body and cupping the side of her cheek rubbing his thumb across it. When he did that she knew he had.

"Zuko" she whispered.

"Tara" he replied in a husky tone.

He had never said her name like that. The way he had said her name made every inch of her tingle and the building pressure below her stomach reminded her that she was too a woman. No one else had ever made her body react in that way. Only when she would lay on her furs back home dreaming of him. There were so many emotions behind a single word that crashed upon each of them like waves to the shore.

He bent towards her with cautious yearning eyes waiting for her to push him away, but to his surprise she reached up to him with hooded eyes on her tip toes consenting to his request. Their lips met in a salty tender embrace full of uncertainty and passion that neither have ever felt before. Her arms found their way around him while his other hand cupped her other side of her face. Both of them deepening their kiss and he closed his eyes. It wasn't rushed or frantic or careless. It was delicate and breathtaking and ardent.

Eyes snapped opened when they heard Sokka yell, "OUCH! Suki what was that for?"

Slowly they let their lips separate, gazing at each other in awe of it all. Zuko took a step back taking her hands in his. They are a perfect fit in mine he thought. "We should get back to the others" he said.

Katara's lips were still slightly parted and her thoughts swarmed in her head like a water spout. She wasn't able to respond verbally so she nodded instead.

Zuko led the way back to the others letting go of her hand when they reached the shore. Zuko shook his head trying to extract as much water as he could from his hair.

Katara giggled and with a swirl and a flick of her wrist both were completely dry.

"I know the answer to your question" he said.

"And what question would that be Fire Lord?" Katara retorted innocently.

"Who is the most amazing waterbender in all the Nations?" he said in a low smooth tone.

"Who would that be?" she asked trying to play coy walking away.

In a few long strides Zuko was right next to her. Leaning down quickly enough only to say "You Tara," with his lips barely grazing the top of her ear.

Fireflies were swarming in her stomach spreading warmth all over her body and making her blush deepen.

Zuko notice how the proximity of their bodies and how his words affected her. He had never gotten this excited over anyone else before, not even Mai.

"I said 'badass' but I suppose I will settle for 'amazing'" she echoed back with her soft pink lips curling up.

Bulging eyes, cocky smiles and silence greeted them back at the fire pit. Katara was thankful that they were on his private beach where she only had to deal with the four and not the whole island watching them.

Suki saved the day by dragging her husband to bed. Sokka only conceded after Suki cooed, "Come ooonnnnnn, we are leaving soon and we need to take advantage of having alone time since we are losing our babysitter."

Then she winked at her sister in-law and Katara mouthed 'thank you' back.

But before anyone else could say anything Katara had excused herself for the night saying how she wanted to make sure she would be up on time to go out in the morning and suggesting that Toph should think about doing the same. Toph only shrugged her shoulders as Katara made her way to the beach house.

After the three had disappeared into the house and long out of hearing range Toph broke the ice.

"Geez as if I could get to sleep with the way Sugar Queen and Sparky's hearts pounding like kimono-rhinos in heat!" Toph said narrowing her eyes at Zuko. His face turned a whole new shade of red and gulped.

"You promised me that we would stay out of this one" whined Aang.

"I know. I just can't help how dense those two can be. If they would just stop being blind like they have been for YEARS, then maybe she wouldn't have to keep rejecting ALL of the men who ask her Dad for her hand in marriage."

"What?!" Zuko huffed out. Men as in more than one. Her dad. Permission. Marriage.

Aang rolled his eyes, "Toph really?"

"Look Twinkle Toes I got his attention" she chuckled pointing at Zuko.

It had seemed to be forever since Zuko felt like he was going to lose his temper. He felt his body heat rise. "Start talking!" He ordered as his hands balled into fists tuning his knuckles white.

Aang threw his arms in the air. "You just couldn't help yourself could you?"

While grinning at the fuming firebender Toph said, "Well I think I'm ready for bed. Will you carry me Twinkle Toes?"

"TOPH!" growled Zuko.

"You better give him something or we are never going to get to go to bed" grumbled Toph's annoyed boyfriend sounding utterly irritated.

"OK, Fine. Why do you care if other guys want to marry Sweetness and make spirits know how many little blue eyed babies with her? Huh? I have no clue as to why she keeps throwing every single guy back to where they came from. I'm actually surprised you didn't hear about the two flame boys from your nation that even tried. Those ones were epic!" Toph then crossed her arms in front of her chest and summoned a mound of sand to prop her feet up on. "They really keep you shut in up there in the palace these days don't they?"

"Of course she would say no. She has been busy helping rebuild her tribe. Busy with teaching her students. Even Agni must know how much time she spends helping Suki with Sokka and the kids, especially Sokka! Not to mention all the time she had spent healing anyone and everyone she could right after the war and helping negotiate peace treaties and trade agreements" he countered as level headed as he could.

"Yeah cut the crap. Even you made time for "Dark and Gloomy" for a while and while we're on that subject why did you guys break up? Her brother and Suki found time to get hitched and pop out three kids. Suki helped make the same treaties and agreements for Kyoshi along with training a new leader to take her place. So what. We all had crap to do and did it. And still made time to get some!"

The thought of another man seeing Katara in less than her bikini and touching her in the most intimate ways made his blood boil.

"WHAT ARE YOU IMPLYING TOPH?" Steam was literally coming out of his nose.

"Calm down. I'm not saying that Sugar Queen isn't as virtuous as she always has been. Again, why do you care so damn much if she gets married to someone else and pops out a herd of elephant seals?"

Zuko looked like his whole world was crumbling down around him as if each one of her words were a stone being ripped from his foundation. He knew that one day she would get married and have kids sure. But the thought of her doing what would be necessary to make babies with another man made his own bile rise his throat.

Why was this so personal? Why do you care?...because she is my best friend and she deserves the best. But who decides who and what's best for her? She is and has always been able to take care of herself. But why didn't she tell me about any of this...

As if hearing his conversation in his head Toph spoke up in a softer and less antagonistic tone.

"Look Zuko, I don't know exactly why she has never accepted any offers. She only says that it wasn't the right time, or that they didn't even know her but she won't even let anyone try to. Or she would say how it just didn't feel right blah, blah, blah. Those were only part of the truth, I know" she pointed and wiggled her feet in the air. "Maybe she doesn't know exactly how she feels. Maybe she's been waiting for someone else to make the first move. I know what I can feel. And I feel like if you two would pull your heads out of the sand and just at least be honest and open about how you both really feel, maybe two people that we love could find what they are missing from their lives. And if you don't then you two are denser than a hundred Sokkas put together!"

Aang just shook his head at his girl's bluntness and sarcasm. Yet they are two of the many reasons why he loved her.

"So...uh, buddy why did you and Mai break up? The real reason. Don't forget the human lie detector is my girlfriend" Aang inquired wrapping his arm proudly around Toph.

Zuko was done in. They really put him in a corner and he knew it. There was no getting out of this one. He had avoided this question for four years now. His uncle was the only person that got remotely close to the real answer and not what they announced to everyone else. They are his closest friends and the closest to a family he ever had. He should want to be open and honest with them but even after all this time Zuko still struggled with certain things.

While taking the beating of Toph's revalations, he started to control his breathing and pull himself together as best as he could.

Deflated and defeated Zuko unclenched his hands exhaling the last of the steam from his body and sunk further down into the sand. He started to open his mouth but before words could escape 'Miss I can never mind my own business' interrupted…again.

"Yeah not the whole 'I must put peace and my nation before myself. Or we were too young and not ready to marry and create mini dark and gloomy heirs, or that we grew apart and she missed her family blah, blah, blah." Toph projected in her best imitation of him. It was not amusing, at all.

"Well that's not a lie."

"But it's not all of it either Sparky." She retorted.

Taking another deep breath Zuko began to tell his story. "We tried I think. We tried the best way we knew how for a while. I guess on some level we thought that things would just fall back into place and all of our feelings would return like how it was before I was banished."

"Not a lie, keep going" Toph affirmed. He let out another sigh.

"After a while we started to resent each other. She couldn't understand why I put more effort into my Nation and the world than our relationship. And I resented her for not being able to understand and be more supportive. It was like she didn't really even care as long as all the problems were on the other side of the gates. Don't get me wrong she likes Tara well enough I guess, but she never could get over that I would give my life to save hers. I feel bad about yelling at Mai now. But I would yell at her telling her that I never want to hear that my life is worth more than Kataras and that I would do it again without hesitating. She became jealous and suspicious of mine and Tara's friendship. I would tell Mai that she was being ridiculous. That I had never given her any reason to feel that way. In the end it was her jealousy that made me finally realize certain things. Things that Mai had known all along but would never say them…things that I knew but couldn't admit. Honestly I was scared."

"And what epiphany did you have?" asked Toph.

"That I finally discovered uncle's secret to making the perfect pot of tea and that I wanted to give up my throne and open a tea shop in the North Pole" he said sticking his tongue at the earth bender.

"Haha, nice try Sifu Hotpants. Even I know that would NEVER happen. You couldn't make a decent pot of tea if to save anyone!" Aang laughed at his own joke.

"Shut it! Your Sifu Hotpants over there is on a roll. So what did you finally realize oh enlightened one?" questioned the Blind Bandit.

"That…that I did have strong feelings for Katara and I had them long before the comet. I know its all history now but, we all knew how you thought you felt about her back then." He tilted his head towards Aang. "I would never do anything to loose yours or her trust and faith in me again. I know she deserves someone better than me. I do not deserve her in that way. I never would allow myself to even think what if. I have never cared about anyone or anything more than her. I…I would do anything if it meant her happiness and safety. So I just shoved all my feelings for her away, accepting the fact that she could never love me back and try to be content with being friends. She's…she is my best friend and I would rather have her as that than nothing at all."

"Do you love her? You said,'… she could never love me back.'" Aang asked smugly as if he already knew the answer which he did.

"Yeah, I guess I do. It's not like it matters. Tonight was just some sick cosmic joke on me. I let myself get caught up in the moment and I never should have kissed her. Sokka will probably try to throw his boomerang at my head the first chance he gets when Suki isn't looking. Tomorrow when she realizes it all she will probably never want to speak to me again. I probably just experienced the best moments of my entire existence and ruined the rest of my life all at the same time." sighed Zuko. The all grown Fire Lord pulled his knees to his chest hugging them like he did when he was the exiled prince.

Aang stood up and helped Toph to her feet then laced their hands together.

"Are we talking about the same person? Katara does not let anyone do anything to her that she herself is not wanting and willing. You do not give yourself enough credit Zuko. Don't you think you owe it to her and yourself to tell her how you feel? You know that she would never turn her back on her family and friends no matter what. Do you want to live the rest of your days with regret weighing on your heart? And what about hers? Doesn't she deserve to make that choice, since she is the other half of the equation? No one is talking about a spring wedding for spirits sake. We all, minus Sokka, but he will come around. He will always see her as his baby sister that he needs to protect so he doesn't count at the moment. But the rest of us want the two of you to see what we see. But we can't make either of you see through our eyes and our hearts. That is something that each of you must resolve in yourselves and with each other."

Toph didn't say anything else which shocked the hell out of Zuko. She just smiled at him then bended the sand beneath him so he was standing for her to hug him.

Aang patted him on the shoulder with a gentle smile on his face. The three benders walked back to the house in comfortable silence, parted ways for the night in the hall and let the night wash over them waiting for what the dawn would bring.