After flying for what seemed like ages, the Gaang found a place to camp; a serene looking pasture on a cliff overlooking the sea. The sun was beginning to set, and the sky took on an orange glow. The breeze was warm and comforting reminding Katara of her Fire Prince. As they were setting up, she didn't say a word. The pain from memory her past days still hadn't worn off and she missed the long hours of comforting silence spent in Zuko's arms.

"Twinkletoes," Toph called from the ground. She covered the exposed part of her legs with her hands and walked back and forth trying to keep warm. "Go get us some firewood."

Aang looked up from unpacking. "I'm not done—"

"Now!" she pointed her finger at him directly as if she could see. Aang sighed and began to walk off.

Katara watched Aang go into the woods and concern for her friend came over her. "Sokka, go with him!" Katara exclaimed.

Sokka, who was laying lazily on Appa's back, groaned in disgust. "I'm too hungry to move…"

Katara placed her hands on her hips. "Go fishing then! Just keep an eye on Aang. We're in the Firenation still remember?"

The teen sat up. "Fine…" he leaped off Appa and ran off into the forest shouting: "Hey Aang, wait up!"

Katara shook her head and reached for her water pouch only to find it empty. "Toph, I'm going down to the shore to get some water."

"Pssh," Toph scoffed. "No you're not! You're gonna tell me what you were doing with Zuko…"

"I already told you! I—"

"The truth," Toph stood and walked towards her.

Katara stared into her sightless eyes hesitantly, then crossed her arms over her chest. "Look, I really don't think it's any of your business!"

Toph rolled her glassy eyes. "Who do you think I'll tell? Twinkletoes is in love with you and Sokka would kill somebody. I may be blind but I'm not stupid!"

"I know…"

"So?"

"So…"

"So, are you gonna tell me?"

Katara blushed deeply. "We… fell in love with each other…"

XXX

Zuko paced anxiously in front of the palace gate. "Katara…" he whispered. "Where are you…" he dropped to the ground and set his face in his hands. He sighed. "Where is she?!"

"Gone," whispered Azula's snake-like voice.

"What?" Zuko stood up and turned as his sister emerged from behind a tree with an evil smirk on her face.

"Here," Azula launched a balled up piece of paper at Zuko's face.

"What's this?"

"Isn't that the "romantic" letter you wrote to the waterbender?" she asked sarcastically.

Zuko unrolled the paper and his heart fell. "She never got it…"

Azula smiled. "Oh, Zuzu…" she placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "Don't look so down! She did get it. She just wrote you a letter in return." She pulled a scrap of folded paper out of her pocket and handed it to Zuko.

He pushed it away. "I can't read any rejections write now, Azula."

"Fine, I'll read it," Azula unfolded the letter and began to read. "It says: Dear Zuko, It's over… I thought I was clear. I can't trust you, therefore I can't love you like I have before. What happened in the catacombs is over. I'm sorry to leave you like this. Trust me when I say this is breaking my heart too! I hope we can be friends in later years.

Sincerely,

Katara

Zuko shook his head in disbelief. "So she's really gone?"

"I'm sorry, Zuko…"

"No you're not," he turned his head away from her.

Azula rolled her eyes. "She's just a peasant! You're the Fire Prince. You can have whatever girl you choose! Take Mai for example. I hear she'll be waiting for you after training with Dad."

Zuko thought for a moment. 'Letting go of her should be good for me.'

"It's going to be hard," Azula commented as if reading her brothers thoughts. "But let her go! Move on…"

The Fire Prince ran a hand through his hair and painfully agreed. "You're right. I can move on."

Azula nodded and watched him walk slowly back towards the palace. She laughed quietly to herself. "What a shame little, Zuzu," she mumbled holding the letter between her fingers. "You have yet to recognize my handwriting…" she set flame to her fingertips and watch as the fire slowly consumed the false note.

XXX

"Wow," Toph breathed. "So, you guys—"

"No!" Katara shook her head violently. "We were really close but—"

"Why do you always forget that I can tell when you lie!"

Katara felt her eyes brim with tears. "I didn't mean for it to happen okay, Toph! I'm fourteen! It wasn't supposed to happen!"

"Katara…" Toph whispered. "Calm down! It's not a big deal!"

"I was saving myself for my husband," Katara whispered looking down at her twiddling thumbs. "And if Sokka found out—"

Toph reached over and shook her shoulders. "He won't! And even if he did what happened already happened. It's done!"

"…My first time was in a cave, Toph…"

The Earthbender stood. "They're coming back. Don't worry so much, Sugar queen." And she quickly sealed herself in her earth tent. "Tell me when dinner's ready!" she shouted.

Katara sighed and remembered.

They lay together on Zuko's long earth kingdom blouse. She was wearing Zuko's long white undershirt and he was in nothing but his training pants. Katara lay her head on his shoulder absentmindedly stroked his taut stomach muscles.

"I can't believe I did this…" Katara mumbled solemnly. "I was saving myself for marriage…"

Zuko kissed her forehead gently. "Believe it or not so was I. It just felt like the right moment."

Katara smiled and peered up into his eyes. "I love you."

Zuko smirked and Katara's heart skipped a beat. "I love you, too! And believe me, I'll never leave you. I swear." He held her tighter against him. "You're my everything."

"His everything…" Katara scoffed. "Right…"

"We're back!" Aang shouted from a distance.

"I got FISH!" Sokka exclaimed running into the camp excitedly.

Guys… trust me when I say I didn't want to have Katara and Zuko do "it" before marriage! Katara doesn't seem like that kind of girl to me! But the story seemed to flow like that to me. I feel awful really! Ugh… oh well! Hope you enjoyed this one!