the second chapter is up! you know, i began writing this not even an hour after seeing Sozin's Comet. There were so many loose ends, I just can't wait to see if there's anything to tie them up. well, anyway. on to the zutaraness...


Chapter Two

"Zuko, I'm leaving."

The Fire Lord looked at Mai, astonished. And confused. "What do you mean, 'leaving?'" he demanded. "Are you going on vacation or something?"

Mai sighed, her eyes moving over Zuko's face as if trying to memorize it. "Zuko, we've been together for two years," she said. "But in all that time, we've hardly done anything." She looked away as her eyes started to fill. "You always have a faraway look and you pull away every time I try to get close to you."

Zuko lifted his hand to take hold of her but Mai moved out of reach. "I don't know what's going on with you anymore, Zuko," she said, "and I'm tired of waiting for you to tell me." Mai shook her head. "So I'm leaving. If you decide to let me in again, let me know. Until then, I'll be with Ty Lee."

"What? You're going to the Earth Kingdom?" Zuko asked incredulously. "But why?"

Mai turned away and began walking away, her heart breaking with every step. "I love you Zuko, but I think we both need some time to figure things out." She looked back. "I know you're still trying to adjust to being the Fire Lord. So I'll wait for you…"

Zuko could only stare silently as Mai disappeared. And then he let out a frustrated shout. Why did all the women in his life just walk away? Why did they always leave him? And then blue eyes flashed in his mind. She didn't leave you, a voice whispered. "She's not mine," Zuko growled. "Besides, I love Mai." Don't I?


The Fire Lord was still scowling when he walked into the large dining hall, thoughts still replaying Mai's words. How could she think I was distant? he silently asked. I'm not… Zuko stopped, coming to attention as he spotted the newest Ambassador to the Fire Nation. She's… He mentally shook his head. She's not Mai, he thought deliberately, turning away. But he couldn't escape the sight of her.

In his mind's eye, he saw her, looking like the princess she was. Katara was wearing a long, flowing gown, form-fitting at the top and spilling from her waist like water. It started out as blue as the sea before slowly changing to the color of ice as it reached her slippered feet. Her dark hair cascaded in waves, spilling across bare shoulders and brushing against her slim waist. Dark kohl outlined her eyes, making their blue depths contrast even more with her dusky skin. She was beautiful.

"Ah, it is the Fire Lord," one of the nobles murmured, bowing towards Zuko. And then, as one, the entire party bowed as well, causing Zuko a familiar sense of embarrassment. After so many years of banishment, such attention disconcerted him, even after two years as Fire Lord.

At that moment, Aang approached him, Katara on his arm and Toph following just a step behind.

"This is a great party, Zuko," Aang said enthusiastically, glancing around the room with wide eyes. "It's amazing how fast you put it together.

Zuko just nodded at Aang's compliment, trying not to let his eyes stray towards Katara. She looked so…feminine. It robbed him of breath. Stop! he silently ordered himself. I love Mai. And we're still together.

"It's nice to see you finally showed, Zuko, when the feast is already over," Katara said caustically, somehow annoyed with the fact that he had yet to look at her. She looked pointedly at him. "Where's Mai?"

The Fire Lord stiffened. "She's…gone."

Katara paused, hearing the note of pain in Zuko's voice. She knew suddenly what he meant when he said "gone." Then again, she had sensed an undercurrent earlier, when she met with Mai to discuss some details. The sorrow and determination Katara sensed in the other woman, then, had been about this.

"Oh," Katara said softly, feeling elated without knowing why. Quickly, she turned to Aang and flashed him a brilliant smile. "Let's dance," she announced, offering her hand.

Aang beamed and took her hand, grateful that Katara was so open about her feelings. A small frown flitted across his face. For a while now, he had glimpsed a hesitation in the waterbender. In public, she always seemed so distant. And even when they were alone, that aloofness remained. Suddenly, Aang shrugged. Maybe she was getting over it. Another smile tugged at his lips and the Avatar slipped a hand into his pocket, feeling the item he had worked so long on. Maybe tonight…

Zuko watched with a pang as Katara danced with the Avatar, her body moving so close to the young bender's. For a moment, Zuko wished he could take Aang's place. But then he buried it. Mai. He missed her.

Filled with a sudden melancholy, Zuko turned his attention to Toph, but the earthbender held up her hands and shook her head. "Oh no," she said, moving back a few steps. "I don't dance."

Laughing now, Zuko took her hand and led her out into the fray. "Just one, Ambassador," he insisted. "It's customary."

Sighing in defeat and wondering if shaking the Palace to the ground would save her, Toph allowed Zuko to begin leading her in an unfamiliar dance. Though she could "see" using her earthbending, Toph never danced. But, when the song ended, Toph decided dancing was not so bad. Her thoughts drifted to Aang. Especially if it was done with someone else… He's not mine, she thought.

Despite the fact that Toph had enjoyed herself, she felt the need to save face. Grinning evilly, she turned to where she knew Katara stood. "Oh Katara," she sang. "Can you come here for a moment?"

Not liking the tone of Toph's voice, Katara approached cautiously, still feeling flushed from her dance with Aang. But, when Toph pushed her up against Zuko, the waterbender blushed, sending a quick glance towards Aang. "Toph!"

Zuko, too, blushed, and looked furiously at Toph, but to no avail. She could not see it anyway. "What is this?"

"It's customary," Toph answered blithely. Smirking now, she grabbed hold of Aang. "Come on, Twinkle Toes. If I'm going to dance tonight, I might as well dance with someone my own age." She did not see the red that spilled across his cheeks as she led him away.

As the music started and they started to dance, Katara peeked up at Zuko, feeling mildly embarrassed. "Sorry. Toph's a little forceful."

"Yeah," Zuko murmured, trying to keep his attention anywhere but on the fact that Katara was pressed so close. He had just lost his girlfriend not an hour before!

"So," Katara began, "is it really customary to dance with the Ambassadors?"

Zuko gave a weak laugh. "I guess it is now."

"Oh." She frowned. "Well, I guess now's a good a time as any to start new things."

Startled at her words, Zuko looked down at her, golden eyes falling into her sapphire ones. "As long as the Fire Nation's the one to start new? Get over past mistakes, right?" Even as the words spilled out, Zuko mentally kicked himself.

Katara stiffened in his arms, a frown marring her beautiful features. "You know what, Zuko? You just don't change, do you?" she demanded. And then a sigh escaped her. "The Fire Nation has made a lot of mistakes, and so have you." When Zuko would have said something, Katara pressed a finger against his lips. "No. Hear me out. You've made a lot of mistakes, Zuko, and it might seem that the Fire Nation will never get over theirs. But, really, you've overcome so much, Zuko. You've betrayed and been betrayed. You've learned from your mistakes. And, because of that, I don't think anyone but you can help your people learn from theirs."

He stared at Katara, his lips tingling from her touch. Unconsciously, he moved closer, fitting her body closer to his. He opened his mouth a bit, as if to say something, and Katara hastily pulled her finger away. Her eyes tore away from his and she blushed again.

"Sorry. I probably sound like an idiot."

"No," Zuko whispered, catching hold of her hand. He brought it closer to his mouth. "You said just what I needed to hear." He smiled and brushed his lips across her knuckles. "How do you do that?"

Nervous now, Katara tried to shrug nonchalantly. "I don't know," she said. "Zuko--"

"Katara!"

The two dancers turned to find Aang bounding up to them. They broke hastily apart and Katara went to Aang's side. "What is it?" she asked, eyes still betraying the mixed emotions lingering from the dance with Zuko.

The Avatar stopped at Katara's attention, his heart fluttering at the look in Katara's eyes. All thoughts from before fled his mind and he abruptly took hold of her hands. Now, a voice whispered.

"Aang?" Katara whispered, feeling a stillness creeping into her.

There was a long moment of silence and then Aang smiled hesitantly. "Katara, you know I love you, right?" he asked, ignoring Zuko and the strange look that passed over his face.

"What's this about, Aang?" Katara demanded gently, flustered.

Aang let go of one of Katara's hands and dug into his pocket. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, Katara, but I didn't know how." He shook his head. "And then I figured it out." Triumphantly, he pulled his hand from his pocket and presented it to Katara.

She could only stare at the small, shell pendant nestled in Aang's hand. It was beautiful and must have taken a long time to make. But its beauty did not hide its significance from Katara--or from the firebender standing beside her.

Zuko stared at the necklace in the Avatar's hand, feeling his heart sink. He shouldn't care, but he did. Oh, Agni, he did. He had spent two years with Mai but he had never been able to rid himself of a pair of sapphire eyes. And, no matter how much he hated it, no matter how many times he told himself he loved Mai…and no matter how many times he tried to convince himself that he did not care about Katara, he did.

"Aang…" Katara breathed, looking up at him with her dark blue eyes. "What…?"

The young airbender took a deep breath and lifted the pendant, letting the black ribbon tied to it dangle. "Katara, I love you and I don't want to lose you. Will you marry me?"

A faint intake of breath announced Toph's presence, but neither Katara nor Aang looked at her. Instead, the airbender waited as his waterbending love stared at him, eyes dark with something he almost--but not quite--recognized.

"Oh, Aang," Katara breathed. "I…I'm so confused," she admitted. "I don't know. This is so sudden."

Aang's heart thumped hard at Katara's words, almost stealing his air, but he managed a small smile. Handing over the necklace, he whispered, "Then keep it, and think about it." And, without another word, he left the dining hall. Somehow, Katara knew he would not be staying in the Fire Nation that night.

Zuko stepped forward. "Katara," he began, nearly ready to offer her congratulations. But, as he tried to continue, he found the words would not come. Instead, he subsided as the young woman walked past him, eyes staring down at the necklace in her hands.

What am I going to do? Katara thought desperately as she left the hall. I love Aang, but…but what? Why am I hesitating? she asked herself. But, as she climbed into bed, still clutching the betrothal necklace, golden eyes came to mind. Desperately, she chased them away, but Katara had no control over dreams.


eeee! i was so excited to watch Sozin's comet; I was absolutely certain Zutara would happen. Unfortunately, it did not. So I guess I'll have to be content with my version...well, please review! tell me what you think!