Chapter 1

The war was finally, finally over. Everything was just as she had been told it would be once peace reigned once and for all. Yet, it was different than Katara had imagined it would be, good, but still, different. But, all of the people she loved were here, alive and safe.

She had kissed Aang on the balcony, overwhelmed with pride and love for the young monk who had overcome so much. They truly had gone through the worst, Katara thought, and the war was finally over.

In a state of pure content, Katara looked at the people in the apartment, her family, born out of trial and sacrifice and betrayal and forgiveness and blood and love. Everyone was here, Aang, Sokka, Toph, Suki, Iroh, Zuko….Zuko who winced while bending down to serve tea to the war heroes. Why was he still wincing? She thought, worry creeping into her heart. She pulled at a strand of hair, nervously twisting it as she observed him.

Serving tea to Mai, wince. Smiling at Sokka, wince. Laughing at Toph who was tricking Sokka, wince. The others didn't seem to notice, but Katara's eyes were trained to notice red flags such as the ones Zuko was showing every few minutes.

Frowning, she walked towards him, grabbing the tray from his hands and placing it on the table. Grabbing his sleeve, she pulled him towards one of the bedrooms in the apartment.

"Katara, what—what are you doing? Where are you taking me?" He asked, puzzled at her sudden and silent actions, yet following her nonetheless.

She didn't answer him. Once in the room, she let go of his sleeve and gestured to the bed. "Lie down." She commanded.

Narrowing his eyes, but not wanting to anger a master waterbender, he complied. She crossed the room to fill a bowl of water. "Why didn't you tell me?" She demanded, as he lay still on the bed.

"Tell you what?" He asked, truly confused.

Bringing the bowl to the side of the bed, she sat and raised his shirt. Gesturing to the large, red, irritated scar, she said, "About this!"

He let his head fall back onto the pillow, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Because I didn't want to worry you. I'm fine, Katara."

Huffing at him, she asked. "You didn't want me to worry? Really, Zuko? So you've just been dealing with the pain quietly?"

He nodded, opening his golden eyes at her. They were beautiful, she thought for a second, like two infinitely burning suns, filled with emotion and meaning.

She sighed, frustrated with him in more ways than one. Gloving her hand with water, she placed it over the scar, and began to heal it.

A thick tension entered the room, as the two silently remembered how he had gotten the scar on his chest. Blue lightning, crackling and dancing in front of them, eyes wide and hearts heavy as Zuko lunged in front of the stream of Azula's lightning.

Emotion thick in her throat, she swallowed before softly asking, "Why did you do it, Zuko?"

The cool blue glow of her healing brightened as she focused on repairing the tissues. He knew what she was referring to. "Because she would have killed you. I would have never forgiven myself."

"She almost killed you, though." She said, anger creeping ever so slightly into her tone. Focusing through blurry vision, she asked, "But she was vulnerable, you could have struck her down right there and then, letting you take the throne back."

Running a hand through his raven black hair, he repeated, "She would have killed you, though."

She stopped for a moment, water returning back to the bowl. Katara looked at him. "So, you would have rather lost everything, the throne, your life, just so that I could live?"

Zuko stared up at the ceiling, not daring to look at her, and not hesitating in his reply. "Yes."

"What if it had been Sokka, or Toph? Would you still have jumped in front of her lightning?" She asked. The questions had plagued her mind ever since the attack, and her curiosity was getting the best of her.

He thought long and hard before answering her. Looking at her, he sighed. "I mean, I like to think that I would have, but I—I'm not sure." When Katara didn't respond, he continued. "If I had to go back now and do it all over again, but with Sokka or Toph in your place, I would. But in the moment," he sighed again, "I'm not sure. I just knew you couldn't die."

One more question, she thought, she had to ask one last question that had been infiltrating her thoughts unbidden lately. Katara took a deep breath.

"Would you have done it for Mai?" She asked softly, ashamed to look at him, ashamed to have asked, and ready for the firestorm she would receive.

Instead, Zuko lay quietly on the bed, still staring at the not so interesting ceiling.

"She's my girlfriend." He finally said. Katara noticed that he didn't answer her question.

"Yeah, but would you—" she started.

"KATARA! There you are!" Aang walked in, not bothered by the fact that 'his girl' was seated next to a shirtless Zuko.

Her eyes locked onto Zuko, and she didn't break their gaze. "Hey Aang, I'm just healing Zuko's scar, I'll be out in a few." Finally turning, she smiled at the airbender a little too sweetly.

He nodded happily and teased, "Well, you better hurry, Toph is going to challenge Sokka to a boomerang throwing contest!" He left, as quickly as he had come.

Distracted by the young airbender's interruption, Katara regloved her hands and began healing Zuko's scar once again. She was surprised when he grabbed her wrist, his thumbs tracing circles on her tanned skin.

Looking at her purposefully, he said quietly, "It's okay Katara, it doesn't hurt. You don't have to do this."

She glared at him. "As a matter of fact, Zuko, I do have to do this."

"Bu—" He started to protest, and she placed a finger to his lips.

"Please, Zuko. Please let me do this for you." She said, almost pleading.

He sighed, warm breath tickling her finger. "Fine." He smiled, shaking his head.

"What?" She challenged, returning her right hand to his scar.

"You're so stubborn, Katara."

She grinned. "Every day, you are to report to me for a healing session. Got it, Firelord?"

He put his hands together in respectful bow, "Yes, Master Katara." He said seriously.