A/N: Well this is day 2 on day 4, but whatever. I HAD planned on finishing this on the past TWO nights, but then things got in the way, like sleep…and..other late night activities. n_n I think I might skip day three for a while… "social networking" has me totally uninspired. Plus, I am behind….I'd rather just catch up with day 4.

BTW, I have none of these written beforehand, and most have been written in less than an hour. Please excuse my mess. :/

Without further ado…

"History"

After searching the courtyard, the throne room, and even the Royal Apartments, Katara finally found her husband locked away in his mother's old study, bent over a stack of papers that he was clearly not reading. It was easy to tell when Zuko's mind was elsewhere, especially now, when his face took on a quality reminiscent of his earlier years, when he spent the majority of his time hating himself, and the rest of it trying to atone for sins that he didn't always commit.

As she stood there, Zuko absently reached for a long-forgotten cup of tea and raised it to his lips, barely registering that it had already gone cold. That was the last straw; it was time to put an end to this ridiculousness.

"Uncle Iroh would be ashamed at you, Zuko. Letting tea go cold like that; it's practically a capital offense."

Zuko started, splashing a bit of the tea on the papers in front of him as he suddenly realized that he was not alone in the room. Katara shook her head in exasperation before moving over to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. He almost seemed to come alive at her touch, shuddering once before collapsing his head into his palms.

"I don't know if I can do this," Zuko mumbled, his voice slightly muffled through his fingers. Katara shook her head, frustrated at his persistent stupidity.

"Zuko, we've been over this before; what will it take to convince you?"

Her husband only shook his head, his frown evident despite the fact that his face was still hidden within his hands. Of course, Katara wouldn't accept such a response.

"Look at me, Zuko. You aren't a monster, and you aren't your father, or your grandfather, or even your great-grandfather. You are Zuko, and that's all. You make your own destiny; you should know that. I wouldn't have married you if you were something else."

Finally, Zuko looked at her, anguish and hope warring within his deep, amber eyes.

"My mother married Ozai, didn't she?"

'Well,' Katara thought, 'Two can play that game.' Acting as if she was genuinely hurt by his comment, she replied, "I cannot speak for your mother, Zuko, but I hope you have realized now that I am not her. And if I was, I am sure that I would be smacking you a good one right now for being so infuriatingly stubborn."

Zuko frowned again, but did not avert his eyes, which was a good sign.

"You know, they say history repeats itself."

"—except when it doesn't," Katara retorted, not missing a beat. Zuko only frowned further; finally it seemed that they would get to the heart of the problem.

"You don't understand!" he suddenly shouted, "I wasn't just angry at those ministers. I wanted to kill them. Katara, I could picture it! I just…"

As Zuko trailed off, Katara finally realized what was bothering him. Zuko didn't understand that it was alright to want to hurt someone; that every person, at some point, wished to harm another. There was just one difference between all people and those like Ozai or Sozin or even Azula.

"Zuko, everyone feels that way. I can't tell you how many times that I have pictured myself choking Sokka, or wishing that I just refuse to help those uptight Fire Nation patient that is dying but still doesn't want the help of some low-life waterbender. We all have those images in our mind, Zuko."

"Yes," he replied, looking as though he really didn't believe her, "But not everyone has my history."

Katara smiled this time, sensing a breakthrough. "But that's exactly the point. You have more reason to hurt people; you have the perfect excuse! And no one would even blame you, because you have done so much good lately. But you choose to do right. You chose to listen to those ministers and then calmly and fairly discipline them for their behavior, rather than strike them down then and there."

Zuko's eyes lit up, though his frown still stayed firmly in place. "But what if I make the wrong choice?"

Katara only smiled wider.

"Well, unlike in the past, this time you have me. And I am not letting that happen any time soon."

Zuko finally smiled, barely visible, but definitely there. "So what you are saying is, history can't repeat itself…"

This time, both were smiling, and Katara moved closer, to share a kiss.

"That's right, Zuko. Because history never had us."

A/N: Oh gosh, how corny. I wince a bit at this! I'm sorry…days 2, 3, and 4 were not too inspiring for me. BTW, day 4 will be up by midnight, ET. Which is [barely] still the proper day, and not late. :D