a/n Welcome to my second Zutara fanfict (and my first AU AtLA ff)! I've been thinking about writing this story for a month, but have been having trouble finding the time. That being said, I'm not sure what my update schedule will look like. I can try for weekly, but I may have to change it to bi-weekly. Either way, I hope you enjoy it!

I want to note that I did adjust the characters' ages.
Disclaimer: If I owned AtLA it would have ended in Zutara.

~Chapter 1~

-Zuko-

"Mom, seriously?" Zuko asked with a groan.
"Yes, Zuko," she replied matter-of-factly, "We had a deal and you know your uncle could use the help."
"But Azula's not going," he reasoned, he was 17 so he didn't whine (despite what Azula said).
"That's because your sister already has a job, you on the other hand…" He groaned. Why did he ever make that stupid deal? When she gave him a stern look, all possibilities of talking her out of it disappeared.
"Fine. Whatever. I'll do it," he agreed, accepting his fate.
"Now, don't be like that," she said frowning, "You sound just like that girl when you act like that."
"'That girl?'" he spat, "Her name is Mai, Mom. And now I'm going to have to call her to tell her that you're making me waste my summer at Uncle's camp."
"Come on Zuko," his mom tried to persuade sweetly, "You used to love being up there." It was true, but he'd be dammed to admit it now.
"I also used to love firetrucks and cowboys, but things have changed."
"Well your Uncle hasn't. This might be your last opportunity to work there since this fall you'll start your senior year and next summer you'll be so busy…"
"Yeah, okay Mom. I already said I'd do it." When she didn't say anything else, he took the opportunity to leave, "I need to go call Mai," he grumbled and turned to go to his room.

He dreaded calling her, but it was the right thing to do. He pulled out his cell phone, found her contact, and hit call. Don't pick up, he prayed Please don't pick up.
"Hi Zuko," Mai answered in her usual drawl and his heart fell. He sighed and could only hope she'd take it okay.

Mai was impassive about most things, except when it came to something he did wrong. In some weird way, it used to make him feel special, to be the one person she chose to care enough about to react to. His mother saw things differently. She never liked Mai and tried to convince him that he was in an abusive relationship, which was absurd. Zuko had seen what an abusive relationship was like and he knew this wasn't it.
"Hey Mai," he replied, "So…uh… You remember that deal I made with my mom?"
"To find a job before the end of the month? Yeah, what about it?"
"Well the month's almost over and I still don't have a job…" he waited, hoping he wouldn't have to spell it out. The silence on the other side told him just to say it, "I have to work at my Uncle's summer camp now." He blurted and then waited for the explosion. He was not disappointed.
"What?! She can't do that! That's so fucking unfair! I thought we had plans! This was supposed to be our summer! We have tickets to see Secret Tunnel in concert!"
"I know, I know," he said wearily, "I'm really sorry."
"That's it? You're 'sorry?'" she hurled the words at him like knives and he winced.
"What else do you want me to say?" he asked.
"I don't know Zuko! God! Maybe you can tell me why you never even tried to get a stupid job so none of this would happen?" The blood started to boil in his veins.
"Maybe if I had been looking for a job instead of chauffeuring you around all month…"
"So this is suddenly all my fault?!" He had to hold the phone away a little because she was so loud.
"I don't know, maybe!" he yelled back. The other end of the phone went deceptively quiet. Uh-oh. The blood that had previously been near boiling suddenly froze.
"Well Zuko, if that's how it's going to be." Her voice had immediately switched to emotionless, "I was planning on waiting until after the concert, but you leave me no choice." He could sense what was coming, but that didn't make the pain any better. "We're done Zuko. Whatever we are or were is over." He opened his mouth to reply, to apologize, when the line went dead.
"Shit," he muttered under his breath before flopping down on his bed.

-Katara-

"What the f-" she started to cry.
"Language." Her father interrupted sternly, as if cussing were the least of their worries.
"Are you kidding me Dad?" she asked harshly, "Really? You are seriously doing this again?"
"I'm sorry Katara, but-"
"No Dad. There is no excuse for you leaving again!" Didn't he see how fucked up it was? Just when she thought things were going good at home. "You didn't have to reenlist. You already put in your time. You could have been done and stay home. But here you are, running off on us again." Her dad took a deep calming breath that only made her madder. She wanted an argument. She wanted to talk him out of it, to convince him to stay.
"Listen Katara," he said calmly, "I know you don't like this, and I am sorry, but I don't have to justify my actions to you or your brother." She opened her mouth but he shook his head, continuing, "Also, I think you should go work at that summer camp with Sokka." She scoffed before realizing he was serious. His words weren't a suggestion, but an order. She realized no amount of yelling would change his mind. She groaned loudly in defeat.
"Fine. Whatever Dad." She said, surrendering. She wanted to fight him more, but there was no point. It was too late. If he already reenlisted and was already being sent away, there was nothing she could do but accept it (even if she didn't fucking like it). "Do you know when you're leaving?" she asked. His gaze fell from hers, his expression turning sheepish. "Dad," she repeated, her voice louder, "when do you leave?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"What?! How could you?!" the tears slipped down her cheeks. "How long have you known?" she demanded.
"A while now," he admitted, "I knew you'd be upset so…I…"
"So you lied. When you first came home, I asked you if you were done and you said yes. You lied to me because you are a coward. You can't stand to be home with us and surrounded by reminders of her so you get on your boat and sail away. Well Dad, that's a pretty shitty thing for you to do to us."
"I know and I'm so sorry Katara." he paused and when she didn't immediately say anything he quickly added, "I really think working at the summer camp will be good for you."
"Why?" she spat, "So we don't have to hang around here and be constantly reminded of her and you? Whatever. It doesn't matter," she said as she turned to go to her room. "Have a nice life." With that, she closed the door, locking it behind her. She leaned against the door and slid to the ground. Only then did she let the tears flow freely until they became silent sobs. He's leaving. He's leaving. He's leaving. She thought as she rocked back and forth.

It was barely light when she woke to a soft knock. She was still sitting on the ground.
"Katara?" her father's voice was muffled by the door. She froze. There was another knock. "Katara? Are you there?" She remained frozen. "I love you," he said softly before the floor creaked and he walked away. She waited, listening. His footsteps grew softer and then she heard the front door open and close. A fresh tear streaked down her face as she got up and crawled into bed. Under the covers, she curled into a tight ball. Goodbye, she thought sadly.

Horrible trumpeting blasted through the house and she bolted out of bed.
"Ahh!" she cried and covered her ears with her hands. "SOKKA!" Just as she went to open her door, the noise suddenly stopped.
"Better get used to it Katara," her brother hollered, "That's how they wake us up at camp."
"Ugh!" she groaned and flopped back down on her bed.
"Uh-uh, dearest sister," he chastised, "don't even think about going back to sleep or I'll come in with a bucket of ice water."
"The door's locked genius," she grumbled, her head buried in the blue pillowcase.
"Hmm, or is it?" She turned her head to see the handle giggle. There was an odd scratching sound followed by a click and the door swung open. "Ta-da!" He smiled, holding up a bobby pin.
"What do you want Sokka?" she groaned. It wasn't the first time he'd unlocked her door.
"Gran Gran wanted me to make sure you were up."
"So you decided to play taps?" she asked annoyed, gesturing to his bugle that lay discarded outside her room.
"Yes," he answered frankly, "We have to drive up to camp later."
"Wait." She sat up in bed, "That's today?" How convenient, she thought sarcastically.
"Yeah, I've been talking about it for weeks. The campers come next week, but staff shows up early to plan stuff and organize." She groaned and got out of bed, knowing any chances of sleeping more were gone.
"What do I even bring?" she asked, "Do they know I'm coming?" Sokka deflated at her second question.
"Yeah, they know you'll be there. Dad had me contact them last week."
"You already knew he was leaving." She was stunned, feeling a new wave of betrayal. After the initial shock faded, anger set in. "You couldn't have told me, given me a heads up?"
"I couldn't!" he said defensively, "He made me promise not to and-"
"Bullshit!" she screeched.
"It's true! And I hated that you didn't know. I'm so sorry Katara," he said, eyes wide with sincerity. The next thing she knew he was hugging her and she was sobbing.
"Why does he do this to us?" she asked, her voice sounding foreign and broken.
"I don't know Katara. I don't know why he decided to leave or why he waited to tell you."
"Is it really because of Mom?"
"I don't know. I wish I did." She sniffed loudly before releasing him.
"How did you react when he told you?"
"Badly. But in the end I tried to forgive him."
"Forgive him for abandoning us?"
"We're not children anymore Katara. We'll be okay."
"I still don't understand how you can forgive him."
"I forgave him because I didn't want my last words to him to be hateful." What had her last words been? 'Have a nice life?' She cringed inwardly. "That being said, I'm still just as unhappy and confused about it as you are. He could have approached this differently." She nodded and noticed she was standing on a piece of paper.
"What's this?" she asked, picking up the paper he must have dropped.
"Oh, that is a packing list the director of the camp made."
"Well," she sighed, "I guess I should start packing…" Sokka nodded and left her to it.

She dove into packing. She didn't do things half-assed. If she made up her mind or agreed to something, she followed through. This time's like no other she thought as she dutifully followed the packing list. It was a bit of an unusual list. There were the normal camp items, but also extra stuff like a nice dress/suit, dress shoes, cell phone, white t-shirt, and camouflage clothes. She didn't quite understand. Sokka had worked at Camp Kyoshi the previous summer, but had been quite secretive about what went on. There were vague comments about how awesome the camp was, but no specifics.

Her thoughts soon drifted to her dad as she stared at her duffel bag. Why had he lied? Or more importantly, why did he want to go? She thought they were doing so well, the three of them and Gran Gran. Apparently, he wasn't as okay as he let on.
"Are you alright Katara?" Asked Gran Gran, coming in to deliver a clean batch of clothes.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, forcing a smile. "Just thinking."
"About your father?" Gran Gran guessed.
"Yes..." She sighed
"It's okay Katara. He'll be back in a few months, he always is." She hoped so.
"Uh-huh," she mumbled as she tucked her jeans into the duffle bag.
"Are you sure you'll be fine working at this camp with Sokka? You don't have to go..."
"Yeah, I'll be fine Gran Gran, I promise. This'll be fun." She tried to convince herself as much as her grandmother.
"Only if you're sure Katara. You know your dad and I just want you to be happy." They wanted her to be happy, but she just wanted them to be happy. Her family was everything to her and it hurt to learn that her dad had been miserable at home. He was still searching for something. It had been that way ever since... "I know you and Sokka will have a great time," Gran Gran said with a grin, interrupting Katara's thoughts.
"Yeah," Katara gave a small smile, "it's going to be a great summer."

-Zuko-

It was a long drive to the camp. He stuck his earbuds in to drown out the boredom. Uncle's camp was way off in the middle of nowhere. It looked like it belonged to a different world. Camp Kyoshi rested on Lake Unagi and was Uncle's pride and joy. Zuko knew his Uncle started the camp because of Lieu Ten. Zuko's older cousin had always talked about opening a summer camp called Kyoshi after he got out of the navy. Uncle brought Lieu Ten's dream to life after Lieu Ten died several years ago when the ship he was on blew up. It had been an accident the navy officials told them, a pipe with a weak weld. The family had been devastated. Zuko had always looked up to his cousin. It seemed impossible for him to just be gone, to leave and never come back. When Uncle first opened the camp Zuko spent most of his summers there to still have a connection to his cousin, but in time even that faded.

Zuko was so absorbed in his thoughts he didn't notice his mom had stopped the car.
"We're here," she announced.
"Greaaat," he groaned and opened the car door.
"Would you stop that please?" Mom asked as she stepped out, "It won't be that bad."
"Whatever Mom," he said as he rolled his eyes and pulled his duffel bag from the back seat. She sighed and he felt a twinge of guilt. He knew he shouldn't be so sullen, but he couldn't help it. When Mai had ended their relationship, he was crushed. He guessed when he called her that it wouldn't go well, but breaking up? It hadn't been some puppy love for him like his mom had called it. For him, it had been real.

Although he hadn't told his mom out right that they had broken up, she must've just realized it. That would explain the sappy look she was giving him that had replaced her look of annoyance.
"I know it seems hard to believe now, but it was probably for the best." She consoled him. Yup, she'd figured it out. Now she was trying to tell him it'd work out. Sure it was he thought, "I'm serious Zuko. What was going to happen anyways? She's leaving for college in the fall."
"Really? I had no idea." He said sarcastically, "Thanks mom." She'd only mentioned it 5,000 times. So what if they were a year and a half apart? It was practically nothing. Zuko's dad had been 12 years older than his mom. Although... they hadn't been the finest example of a couple...
"I really am sorry," she said sincerely, "Try not to let it ruin your time at camp. You'll get to work with some of your old friends and your uncle."
"I haven't worked here in two years mom. I doubt I'll know anyone." Besides Uncle, he'd be surrounded by strangers that were for the most part 9 to 12 year olds. He was about to add something else when a car pulled up and a guy got out of the passenger seat.
"Zuko is that you?" The guy asked and jogged over.
"What were you just saying?" Mom asked under her breath with a sideways grin. He ignored her comment.
"Sokka?" Zuko asked, so surprised to see a face from his past.
"Hey!" Sokka smiled and shook Zuko's hand, "How have you been?" Truthfully, he'd been better, but he didn't want to tell Sokka that. So much had happened since they last met, too much to bring up. So he settled for a stock response.
"Good. You?"
"Yeah, I've been good." Sokka replied with the same nonchalant shrug, "Long time no see. What's it been? 8 years?"
"Ten actually." Zuko's Mom said with a small smile, "It's nice to see you again Sokka."
"Same to you too ma'am."
"You've grown up so much. You must be heading off to college this fall."
"Yep, that's the plan, but we'll see how long I last."
"That's great." She smiled, "I'm sure you'll be fine. I wish you the best of luck. As much as I'd like to linger, I better go. Errands. I'll let you two catch up. Say 'hi' to your uncle for me Zuko?"
"Okay, bye Mom." They hugged quickly before she got back in the car. As she drove off, a part of him wondered if she even had errands. It was as though she didn't want to interrupt.
"So..." Sokka said once she was pulling out of the drive, "Have you worked here before?"
"Yeah, my uncle's actually the director."
"Iroh's your uncle? Dude, he talked about you, but I had no idea it was you. That's cool man."
"So I guess you've worked here before then?"
"Just once last summer, actually-" A car door opened and slammed.
"Sokka!" A girl called, interrupting them. Zuko thought he heard him mumble 'speak of the devil' before he replied loudly.
"Yeah?" He hollered back.
"Come help me with my bag," she replied.
"Who's that?" Zuko asked. Girlfriend maybe?
"Do you remember my sister?" Sokka asked, "Katara?" Just as Sokka said her name, she came around the side of the car. Holy shit he swore to himself. He did remember Katara, very well in fact. Waves of memories flooded back. Even in the span of 10 years, he could never forget her. Her eyes were just as piercingly blue as he remembered. It was obvious the summer just got a whole lot more interesting.

a/n I really hope you liked it and I would love to hear your thoughts in a review! Thank you for reading!