I realize that Zuko is out of character, but I hope in this chapter you will understand why I did so. Thank you all for your reviews. I hope that this chapter doesn't disappoint. :D

[Katara's POV]

I stood up from the vanity seat and was about to walk out of the bathroom when there was a knock on the door.

"Please stay here. I'll be right back." Zuko gave me a pleading look to match his voice. Then he walked out.

"Come in," he called in the cold voice of a prince and the door opened.

"My prince. Here are the bandages and ointment you requested." The new voice sounded younger than I would have expected. I wished I could see if the face would match.

"Thank you."

"Please let me know if you need anything else. Welcome back to the Fire Nation," the man said and shut the door.

"You can come out now," Zuko said after a moment.

When I walked into the main chamber I saw a look of relief and regret on Zuko's face. My curiosity flared but I tried my best to repress it. I wasn't quite sire what to do so I just stood there waiting for Zuko to come back to reality and say something. I was getting impatient though, considering this was my captor and I was in the Fire Nation. After about five minutes my impatience, along with pent up anger, got the best of me.

"Okay Zuko. What is wrong with you? You have everything you wanted! The Avatar's dead, you're home, and you have your honor back. There is no reason for you to be brooding and wallowing in self-pity." Just like in Ba Sing Se, Zuko just stood there and took whatever I threw at him. I feel a little better now. Maybe I should yell at him more often. I chuckled inwardly at the thought. What would be even better?

At that thought I summoned water from the bathroom and sent a whip at Zuko. When it hit him, he didn't react more than flinching. I called more water to me and threw all of it, full force, at his chest. He flew back, head hitting the dresser. Still, he didn't react so I froze all of the water around him; only his head was left free. I walked over and glared down at him.

He's actually good looking, I noticed. The ends of his hair were covered in frost. I'd consider dating him if he hadn't chased us for a year with no redeeming qualities to speak of. Zuko just laid there staring at the ceiling, avoiding my eyes.

"Why would you trust me?" I asked him, trying to gain his attention.

"Because you trusted me in Ba Sing Se. Since I betrayed that trust I thought the only way to redeem myself was to trust you and try any way I could to earn it back," he replied, nonchalantly.

I thought that that was a reasonable answer. Maybe, if he's not lying, there's hope for him after all. "What made you change your mind so fast? Four days ago you couldn't wait to be home."

He sighed. "Four days ago I didn't see a young woman being whipped for not kneeling or stating her name. Four days ago my father didn't welcome me home because I killed the Avatar, let alone a person, especially since I wasn't the one that did it. Four days ago I didn't realize just how much I changed, going a different direction than my nation."

My anger evaporated and I just stood there shocked. There was no denying the pain in his eyes or the regret on his face. The ice melted but he just stayed there. Can I trust him? He seems so sincere but he seemed sincere back in Ba Sing Se. What happened in the catacombs after Aang and I left?

"What happened after I left?" I asked, needing an answer to my question.

"I'm assuming at Ba Sing Se. My uncle told me that I was a crossroads of destiny. I had to choose between right and wrong essentially. Azula came in with her Dai Li agents and imprisoned him for treason. She let me decide between coming home as a traitor and coming home as a hero. I was too proud to come back a traitor. I should have escaped with my uncle when I had the chance. We were living a simple life, uncomplicated. That's the happiest I'd been since my mother left," he confided.

"Then why throw it away?"

"I thought I would be happier with my father's love and acceptance. But he's not the father I want. He's not a father at all."

"Would you get your uncle out if you could?"

"Of course," he said, lifting his head to look at me for the first time in ten minutes.

"If I helped you get him out would you come with me, when I figure a way out of here?" I asked, hoping to Tui and La that I wasn't making the wrong choice.

"Do you still think there's a chance the Fire Nation won't win the war?"

"If there are people fighting for their homes, then there's always a chance."

He sat there contemplating, and then nodded his head. "Okay, but we'll need to plan this carefully and be sure that Azula, and Agni forbid, my father don't find out. I'd be put to death for treason and I can imagine your punishment would be much steeper if they found out."

"Excellent. What about the day of the eclipse? That would give us plenty of time to plan and your father and psycho sister would be powerless to stop us," I recommended, knowing full well that Sokka would still go through with the invasion.

"That's what I was thinking, too. Until then, and I know you'll hate this, but you must play the part of an obedient, broken servant girl. At least while we are out and about. Within my chambers you're fine to be the fiery Waterbender you are. And please, when others can see you, don't use any bending."

I sighed and said, "If I have to. And you're right; I don't like this one bit. What do I have to do?"

"I'll need to get you servant's clothes to wear tomorrow. I apologize in advance. The Crowned Prince's female servants are considered concubines so your clothes won't be as modest as you normally wear, but you're more than welcome to wear one of my robes during the day in here. Again, when we're out and about, you have to look the part."

"Anything else?"

"The rest I'll have to fill you in on as we go. Concubines wear the mark of their owners if they're actually assigned. Traditionally, concubines are given a permanent mark, branding. But there's something that my uncle and I discovered that would be better for you. It's like at tattoo, but the beauty of it is that it's only temporary. It will stay on for weeks to months at a time, depending on how much you scrub it when you bathe."

"Perfect. Well, I don't know about you but I'm tired. Where do I sleep?"

"Well, the same place as me." Zuko blushed and averted his gaze again.

"Oh, come on. It won't be that bad. Just stay on opposite sides of the bed. That bed is wide enough for us to sleep at the ends of the bed with no danger of even coming close to each other." I put on a good show of nonchalance but inside I was terrified. I'm sleeping in the same bad as the Crowned Prince? How did that happen?

"You're right. If it doesn't work out I can have more blankets brought in for the day seat," he gestured to the couch which was missing the back. Then he stood up, dripping.

I started laughing. He looked like a baby moose-lion straight out of the river. His hair and clothes stuck to him. He had a pouting face as if he was put out by my laughing, which only made me laugh harder. He is one of the few people in this world who can pull off a pouty face. And he looks so darn cute doing it too.

"Do you mind?" Zuko asked, a hint of his old self in his voice, gesturing to himself. I gathered all the water from his clothes and ground and sent it back to the bathtub. When I came back Zuko was setting up the pillows and blankets at either end of the bed.

"Which side do you want?" he asked.

"I'll take the one away from the door, if you don't mind of course."

"No, I don't mind," he replied, climbing into bed. I did the same.

"Good night, Katara. And I'm sorry about earlier. You shouldn't have had to go through that. But you were brave to do so quietly."
"Thanks. Good night." I went to sleep that night already planning the months to come, and praying to anyone who would hear me to keep my family safe.

I think that Zuko is still a little bit out of character but I'll work on making him into his old cheery self. Please review and I'll have the next chapter up as soon as it's written. Thank you again.