A/N: Hello Again! It is time for an update. We will see how well you guys like this one. Let me know!

Reviews:

Guest - Yes Aang and Toph are married in this story.

Ldrmas - My last story I updated every Friday and by the end it was hard to do. So this time I am doing once a month to make sure everything comes out as good as it can.

Guest - I plan on updating as much as possible. Hopefully I keep to it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Avatar.

The ball had been going on now for around 2 hours. It had to be close to 11. The wine was flowing, the political people were mingling. Based on other parties she'd been to, the party should continue on into the early morning hours at this rate.

"This is so fun!" TyLee said as she bounced in place.

"It's only fun because you keep getting asked to dance by cute guys." Mai said to her friend.

TyLee smiled at her friend. "Maybe you shouldn't have gotten married so fast then."

"She's right." Suki said from her spot by TyLee. "I knew Sokka for a long time before we got engaged. You married Dill three months after you broke up with Zuko."

"It wasn't three months."

"Yes it was." Toph said from next to her. "Four months after the end of the war you broke up with Zuko. Then three months later you married Dill. Even if it isn't exact, it all happened within a year of the war."

"We were in love." Mai said with no emotion. "I just wish he would not want to be all political and make me go to these things."

"You never change." Katara said with a slight laugh.

Aang, Sokka, and Zuko stood not far from the girls speaking with some nobles from the Earth Nation. Zuko was keeping a close eye on Katara. He had spoke with Sokka about the man shortly after they had separated from the girls. Sokka said he would spread the word so everyone would watch for him but Zuko was still on edge.

Every man that came over to ask her to dance he would watch her body language to see if he needed to go to her. Her friends had yet to leave her side but it was only a matter of time before something would separate them. It had almost happened a few times already when all the girls but her a Toph were asked to dance and another time Mai had to turn down her husband. Zuko was having trouble getting away from some of his conversations and it was starting to bother him.

Sure she had said that she was only worried about killing the man, but Zuko didn't think that was all. She would not be shaking if it was only about killing him. He would make sure he asked her later tonight what it really is. She seemed off tonight to him. The Katara he was relaxing with hours ago in the room two doors down seemed forever away at this point.

He needed to get this political crap over with so he could stay with Katara or make her stay with him. He hadn't been this worried about her since when they fought his sister.

Katara watched her friends as they danced and messed around. She knew that Zuko would have most likely told them by now that Tikaani was here. She had watched as her friends had turned down dances so she wouldn't be alone and even Mai had stayed with her once while everyone else danced.

She was starting to get stressed. It had to be close to hour three of the party by now. The moon was full and high above. It was midnight or close to it. She was starting to get tired and wanted to go to bed. She had gotten up this morning at 5 for meetings with nobles and had yet to go to bed. But no one had left the party yet and she couldn't be first, her family was throwing it. She wanted the night to be over already.

She had yet to see Tikaani and she was thankful of this. If she could go all night without seeing him she would be happy. There were close to five hundred people if she remembered the guest list. She assumed most wouldn't come until the games started tomorrow but as she looked around the room it looked as if her assumption was wrong.

She glanced over at Zuko again. He was talking with some men she had never seen before but he was faced so he could see her. She smiled at him and he returned it. It was simple but it made her happy that even though he was suppose to be the big bad Fire Lord right now, he could smile at her. She watched him excuse himself and walk towards her.

"How's your evening going?" Zuko asked once he was close enough she could hear.

"Fine." Katara responded as he stopped in front of her. She took a step closer to him before continuing. "How's the evening going for you?"

"Terrible." Zuko said to her. A confused look crossed her face. "I am here with a beautiful lady and I have yet to spend any time with her, let alone a dance."

Katara's look of confusion was replaced with a slight blush and a smile. "Well maybe you should ask her to dance then."

Zuko smiled in return. "Would you like to dance?"

"Always."

Zuko lead Katara out to the dance floor, a smile on both of their faces. When Katara and Zuko danced together it was always a beautiful sight. They had taken lessons together shortly before the one year anniversary of the war. Zuko was made to take them as a refresher as to not embarrass his nation at the ball. Katara asked if she could join him as she did not have formal dance lessons. Ever since, people would be in awe of them.

They were elegant and powerful, but only when they danced together never separate. They fed off each other, when others danced with them it was lackluster and often they made a fool out of themselves. Many people now knew to just stick to standard dancing with them instead of trying to recreate the amount of energy from the two of them.

Zuko waited for the simple song to end before he pulled Katara close for the next dance.

"Zuko." Katara said in a whisper. His eyes meeting hers the only response she needed to continue. "I have nothing on under this dress. Don't spin me too much."

Zuko smiled at her modesty. "Or I could spin you all I want." Katara looked at the man mocking her with a laughing shocked look on her face, before they both smiled. Katara knew he would keep the spinning down, he was just attempting to make her night a little more fun.

The next song started and the two began to dance. Zuko lead her across the floor like they were floating. Katara was spinning and twirling like waves on the ocean, but never letting her skirt go past her knees. Everyone who had not been watching was now on the edge of the dance floor. People on the dance floor were moving out of the way, until soon only Katara and Zuko were left.

The crowed looked on as Zuko spun Katara and dipped her in one fluid motion. Some were awing others were just looking on in shock. The whispers of how they had danced together at this ball and that ball raced through the crowed as the song played on.

The song was coming to an end and Zuko rushed them into a spin before dipping her. She shot up to his chest as the song ended. Clapping was heard all around them.

Katara was pulled from her trance of their dance and blushed slightly before she bowed. Everyone slowly returned to what they were doing after telling the two what beautiful dancers they were.

Zuko placed his hand in the small of Katara's back and began to lead her towards their friends. When they were four feet off the dance floor they were stopped by a man Zuko did not know. He assumed he was there to tell them how great their dance was like all the others.

"What a marvelous dance." The man spoke.

Zuko felt Katara shift towards him. To a normal person it would look as if the man had scared her because he had appeared from her blind spot, but to someone touching her, Zuko knew that she was attempting to get closer to him.

"Thank you." Zuko said as he tried to move them to the right of the man but he jumped in front of them again.

"I am Tikaani from the Northern Tribe. You are Fire Lord Zuko are you not?" The man asked.

Zuko had hoped that it was his imagination that Katara had moved closer to him but when he heard the name it was over. "Yes I am. Can I help you with something?" His voice was stern and he stepped ever so slightly in front of Katara.

"Yes. I heard that Katara was your date for this evening." Tikaani began. "I was wondering if I could have a dance with her."

Zuko had had his hand on her back the entire time. Once he heard the question his hand moved from her back down to her hand, his voice not changing. "I do not say who dances with her and who doesn't, that is up to her."

"As her date it is your job to inform her who she can dance with." Tikaani spoke to Zuko as if informing him of something a child should know.

Zuko could feel Katara's grip on his hand tighten as if to say don't start a scene. "I'm afraid that we see things differently on that note."

Katara then spoke in a calm voice. Too calm for Zuko's liking. "I don't feel like dancing at the moment. Zuko is my date and we have yet to spend any time together this evening. If you don't mind I would like to spend some time with him." When she finished she placed her free hand on Zuko's forearm that was holding her hand.

"Maybe another time then." Zuko said as he walked away from the man not giving him time to reply. Zuko felt the man behind them attempt to follow. "Toph." Zuko said only loud enough for Katara to hear.

Katara looked at him confused when she heard something crash. Katara attempted to stop and look but Zuko pulled her along. "It's just Bumi." When they had moved far enough away from Tikaani for Zuko's liking he spoke. "I had something set up with Toph. Bumi did something crazy, but normal for him, to get everyone's attention to let us get away."

Katara looked at the crowd that had gathered around Bumi who was not more than a foot from Tikaani. A smile formed on her face from the care her friends had for her well being. Zuko leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Later you will tell me what is going on."

As he stood back up Katara's smile became content. He always knew what she was really thinking or trying to do. She should have known hiding something from him was stupid. She took the arm of the hand still holding hers and pulled it closer leaning her head on his shoulder. "I am ready to go to bed." She said with a sigh as she watched Bumi jump into the air again. Zuko smiled as he kissed the girl's head, so was he.

The rest of the evening Zuko did not leave Katara's side. They had walked around and mingled amongst the other nobles. Most were coming up to them to speak with Zuko, but after Katara put in her two cents they ended up having a conversation with Katara as well.

'I am pretty good at this.' She thought to herself as another nobleman bowed to them and left. 'Maybe it is just when I am forced to do it by myself that I hate it.'

Zuko looked towards the beauty at his side. He was amazed at how well she was conversing with the noblemen. Most of the time the women would not speak and if they did the men would stop them. The few women that did speak held places in power and were acknowledged as someone worthy of speaking with. Katara would speak when she felt she should and tell them off when they didn't like it. Zuko believed this bought her respect from the noblemen.

He had never really stayed with Katara before during a ball. Sure he had been her date numerous times as requested by Uncle or GranGran, but most of the time they danced once and then parted. 'I should keep her with me more often.' He thought with a smile on his face.

Katara looked at him after scanning the room. "What?"

"Nothing. I am just a little confused as to how you got so good at this mingling thing." Zuko responded with a confused smile.

Katara laughed at his question. "I am just being me. I think that I might be pretty good at this too, depending on the person. That last guy didn't like me very much." Katara responded as she absentmindedly took Zuko's arm and placed her hand in his.

Zuko smiled at how easy she let him so close. "Everyone doesn't have to like you. And the people who don't like you shouldn't be in your life."

"Ok Uncle." Katara said in a mocking tone. "Speaking of, when will he be here?"

"He came with me." Zuko said confused. "Didn't you see him yet?"

"No." Katara responded. "Is he here?" She asked looking around the room.

"No. He asked Aang after we got here if he could borrow Appa and go somewhere for the night. He said he would be back before the games tomorrow." Zuko responded. "I'm surprised he didn't come and talk to you before he left."

"Me too." Katara said as she looked around the room thinking maybe he came back early.

She glanced at the clock. It was close to 3 am. 'When will this end.' Then she looked towards her father. Someone was saying goodbye to him. 'Could it be? Will I get to go to sleep soon?!'

No one wanted to be the first o leave so they waited it out. Finally when a noble's wife fell asleep and was snoring at a table, he had gone to her father and left. After that it was like a waterfall. They all must have been as tired from their journey as she was from working.

The great hall emptied like there was a fire. Within minutes all that was left were Katara and her friends. As they all walked towards her father to say goodnight, she was so happy that she almost wanted to cry. She could hear her bed yelling her name.

"Thank you all for coming. I am assuming you are all going to participate in the games." Hadoku asked while eating a small cake.

"Yes." Was heard from everyone in various ways.

"Good. Head to sleep. Since the opening games are tomorrow afternoon, or this afternoon, you will have plenty of time to rest." Hadoku said as he walked out of the room talking with GranGran.

Aang and Toph followed behind him mumbling about how late they would sleep in.

Sokka and Suki were at the meat table getting a late night snack for their room, as Sokka put it, before they too headed out of the room.

TyLee, Mai, and Dill were behind Toph and Aang talking about all the good dancers of the evening.

Once everyone had left, Zuko looked at Katara standing next to him. "It's finally time to sleep."

"Finally!" Katara said as she grabbed his arm and pulled it to her. She let him lead them towards their rooms while her head rested on his shoulder with her eyes closed.

Katara walked silently with Zuko down the halls. It was a short walk and she could already feel herself falling asleep. But she didn't care, her father and Sokka were home so she could sleep in as late as she wanted.

Zuko was content as he walked down the hall. There was a beautiful girl hanging off his arm and he was pretty sure she was asleep. He smiled at how easy it was to be around her. Everything she did with him always ended up being so simple. He needed this to happen all the time. He needed simple and happy.

As he reached her door he stopped. "Katara."

"Thanks Zuko." Katara said to him with a smile. She was almost out cold on his shoulder.

"Katara. Go into your room. You're gonna have to let me go now." Zuko said as he slowly started to peel her off of his arm. The guard at the door laughed slightly. Zuko looked at the man with a smile as well. "It's been a long night. Can you go check her room?"

The guard nodded before going to check if anyone was inside. The palace did not have wings designated for various things like in the Fire Nation. People could wonder around anywhere depending on where their room was. One of the first balls they had a man had wondered into Sokka's room thinking it was his and fell asleep.

While he didn't take anything it showed them how easy it was for anyone to get into the nobles rooms. Now guards checked the rooms or would stand watch all night to make sure nothing happened.

When he returned Zuko had finally gotten Katara off him. "Good night." Katara said with a yawn as she walked into the room and shut the door.

Zuko and the guard laughed together. "She's almost been up 24 hours." Was the only response Zuko gave the guard before he walked towards his room. "Have a good night." He said as he reached his room. He waited and watched the guard leave.

Zuko ran inside and locked his door to the hall and his door from the sitting room to his room before destroying the wall between their rooms. Katara stood there with her dress unzipped in confusion as Zuko ran past her. "Zuko?"

He ran past her straight to her door and locked it. He carefully scanned the sitting room and began to flip over pillows and furs or anything someone could hide behind. Katara walked into the sitting room holding her dress up by crossing her arms over her boobs. She watched as another fur went flying across the room.

"Umm…" Katara tried but Zuko just walked past her into her bedroom. "Let me try again…ummm…Zuko?"

He still wasn't listening to her. He was too busy looking around her room to see if Tikaani was hiding in her room somewhere. The guard had just walked through, if he was hiding the guard would have never found him.

Katara watched as Zuko looked all over her bedroom. He took more care with this room just turning things over in place and returning them to their original spot. "Zuko." Katara finally said when he looked as if he was finished.

He was slightly panting from his dash to check everything as fast as possible, but he spoke looking around the room to make sure he had checked everywhere. "Yeah?"

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Katara asked from her spot in the doorway to her sitting room. She had leaned against the door frame, still holding her dress in the same fashion, when it was obvious to her that he wasn't going to listen.

Zuko answered as he checked once more under her bed. "Yeah. He isn't here. I feel better now."

"I'm glad." Katara said mockingly. "And I am sure when Nana comes in the morning to clean my room she will be glad too."

Zuko stood from the floor to yell at her mocking tone when it was something so serious but then stopped when he looked at her. "What are you wearing?"

Katara smirked to herself. "I was undressing when you came running into my room."

"Well you didn't lock the door after you came in and I was worried since the guard just did a walk through." Zuko said with a slight blush as he walked towards her stopping half way between them.

Katara smiled at his concern. "Next time at least tell me what is happening when you freak out on me. I was a little scared."

"Sorry." Zuko responded finally catching his breath while the blush slowly faded from his face. 'Damn Uncle and this stupid dress. I forgot she isn't wearing anything under.'

"Let me change and I will come over and we can talk because there is no way I can go to bed now." Katara said as she moved from the door way.

Zuko stopped her from getting closer to him. He was worried what might happen if this half naked goddess was within reach. "Its ok. You've been up for awhile. I just wanted to make sure you were ok. I'm sure you will pass out as soon as your head hits the pillow."

Katara smiled at the slight blush that was returning to his face. Her current attire must be bothering him now that he was paying attention to it. "Ok. Goodnight. "

Zuko nodded and ran through the wall. Katara closed it with a slight laugh. She walked over to her clothes and picked out some pajamas. She went to her bed and laid down. Laying there waiting for sleep to take her, but it never came. She rolled and tossed and tried more blankets. Less blankets. "Gah!"

"I changed my mind." Katara said before getting out of bed and heading for the wall. "I don't think I will listen to him tonight. He freaked me out too much."

Zuko had walked through the wall and started to insult himself about how stupid he was for what he just did. "How could I just run in there like that? What was my plan if I found him? Beat the shit out of him? What would Hadoku say when I tried to explain why I was in her room?"

He then stripped into his undergarments and laid on his bed. "That was so dumb." His bed was simple and small. One fur was all he needed since he could control his body temperature. He pulled it up to his waist and then continued to speak to himself. "I am going to have to watch myself. I don't need any one dead over something so simple. Katara can handle herself. I am just here for moral support."

The words had hardly escaped his mouth as the wall came down. He turned his attention to the hole and there stood Katara in her pajamas, shorts and a t-shirt. She had plenty of furs so there was no need for long pants and a parka.

A smile graced his face. He was the stupidest man alive and now he was almost naked and the girl he loved was walking into his room with almost as few clothes on as him. What god was upset with him?

Katara walked the short distance from her room to his bed. She had sat on it many times while he paced the room or yelled at her. It wasn't something new to her. As she walked towards it he shifted over to make room for her by laying on his side. "Where are your guards?" She asked as she sat down and began to put her legs under the covers.

"Patrolling with yours. I told them I would rather them do something for everyone, rather than just me." Zuko said as he watched her get under the covers with him.

"Oh." Katara said as she moved farther under the covers. She was sitting up leaning against the wall but her clothes were not warm enough for her to not be under a fur. "Thank you for today."

Zuko watched as she shifted to get comfortable before he spoke. "Its fine. Anyone would have done it." Katara smiled at him. He could see how tired she was when she fully turned to smile at him. "Why don't you head to bed?"

"You said you wanted to talk to me." Katara said as she began to shift around again. "Plus I tried the sleep thing and it didn't work. I'm too freaked out now that someone is in my room. It reminded me of Biah."

Zuko frowned as he watched her shift around the bed attempting to get as much of her body under the cover as possible without laying down. He never wanted to remind her of that terrible night again. He felt awful. Zuko pulled the covers away from her. "Lay down."

"I'm fine."

"Lay down."

"It's ok."

"Lay down."

"Ok fine."

He watched as she laid all the way down resting her head on one of his pillows. "I already said it can wait until morning." He spoke as he placed the blanket onto her body. "Right now you need to sleep."

Katara sighed in the comfort of the bed and finally being able to relax. "I knew I was tired after standing all night, but I didn't realize I was this tired." Was it because she was with Zuko? She had just tried to sleep in her room and sleep was nowhere near her. The only difference now was that Zuko was next to her.

Zuko laughed as she struggled to keep her eyes open. "Just go to sleep. And don't snore this time."

"I was sick last time." Katara tried to argue but it didn't sound threatening as she yawned mid sentence.

Zuko smiled and pulled the covers higher over them. It was too much heat for him but he knew Katara would get cold without them. Katara shifted onto her side facing her room.

Zuko had a great view of her back from the way he was laying. He pulled her to his chest so that her back was against it. He wanted to make sure she would get his warmth as well. He smiled as she moved closer into him as well. He didn't care if it was only for his warmth, the fact that they were so close was all he needed.

He lay there for a moment thinking about all the other times they had shared a bed. It would happen very regularly at this point. It first started right after Mia got married. Katara had stayed with him when he had gotten drunk that night. After that it was a normal thing for them to do whenever they were together. Of coarse nothing ever happened and it wasn't every time they were together, but it was still enough that they knew each others little sleeping habits.

Zuko extinguished all the lights in the room with a small smile on his face as he remembered how this all started. "Night Katara."

"Night Zuko."

A/N: Not as long as last time. About 2,000 words shorter but what can you do. Maybe next month it will be longer.

If I get ten comments I will post an extra chapter this month!