Hi guys!~

I want to think the guest that reviewed for this story, although I do hope that you guys will get a account so I can think you personally. However, you guys have to understand that I don't plan for her to just give up, what kind of story would that be? Basically what I'm trying to say is that to think of this logically everything has been pushed onto her last moment and she hasn't had time to think, make sense?

Okay now to this chapter~! This is where your little girl grows up -sniffles happily-

Chapter 3: Finding Aang

A month, a month is what she had before her family would be there and a month is what she had to think of a plan and get the hell out of that place to warn them! However, there was a few things to these plans that she had to think of, firstly was the fact that she had to wait at least three weeks to see if she was pregnant, if she was she would have to quickly leave before she was showing, secondly was the necklace, a bomb attached to her neck was sitting there waiting. The good news, however, was because of the necklace and the set up barrier they had around the palace with fire stones, they let her go where ever she wanted, simply put she could go anywhere she wanted within that palace. So now she could find Aang! Silently she walked down the hallways of the grand palace, that red fire benders gown burning her from the inside out! Oh how she wanted to take it off, how she wanted to destroy all the clothes that were sitting in that closet so silently waiting for her to change into them the next days, she wouldn't allow it! Every day had been hell and now that she was... sorta free, she wasn't going to waste this chance!

So she walked, through the hallways allowing the guards to stare at her, allow them to whisper behind her back even if she wanted to yell and kick her feet, perhaps kill them with her small hands wrapped around their small little neck! With the fire flickering on her tan skin and her eyes shining in the dim lighting, she could hear every little thing that went on within that palace, even feel the water in the pipes of the building being protected by the heat of the leaders flame. He didn't like her...Gently her gown flowed behind her in a graceful manner, her long hair brushed straight and decorated with Zuko's crest allowing it to gently lay on her shoulders, that blasted necklace glistening just above her breast line, her breast however where covered by her gown. The doors to each room seemed to be something like a bedroom, a bath house hallway, dinning room and a few studies and libraries, she knew this wouldn't be easy but she also didn't expect there to be over a thousand doors and hallways! Her small feet tapped against the marble flooring while she kept her hands to her sides, the throbbing and aching in her feet making her almost want to give up! Silently she rounded another corner and ran smack dab into a strong tone chest who growled at her.

Two arms wrapped around her slim waist, she froze, her eyes widening and her body tensing when the warm breath of the male touched her skin, "...Katara ... What are you doing out here...?" Questioned Zukos voice ever so gently into her ear, his hands running down her waist and gripping the gown tightly to hold her still against him, "Besides... I told you to wait for me in the room..." His grip became rougher, nails digging into her skin over the gown and his other hand holding her neck tightly making her shut her eyes and grip his wrist in her weak attempt to try and fight him back then he pulled away, dropping her to her feet from the little way up he had her off the ground. Honestly she was surprised, though she had her hands over her neck, and looked up to see Zuko simply looking down at her, "...Are you looking for Aang...?" Her body tensed and she looked away, the simple action making the male smirk and chuckle! Bowing her head like a wounded dog, Zuko petted her head and sighed, "Go a head... Sooner or later you'll find what your looking for... But if you don't start listening, You'll start finding Pieces of what your after left out in the open for you..." Waving to her from over his shoulder while he walked away, Katara gripping her hands into fist while she placed them on her knees growling. He could be easily killed, she could maybe freeze this whole family and run...?

Slowly she stood up and moved onto her hands pushed her self up, the pain of knowing he would do what he would said to her to Aang, so the question was should she chance it now? Standing there in silence, her head bowed and hair falling over her face, she felt her heart pounding in her chest and gripped the gown tightly that she wore shaking, there was nothing that could change her mind... She needed to find the boy and run away! With that thought in mind, she hurried down the hallway further and narrowed her eyes, there was a burning pain coming from her eyes and before she knew it she found her back pressed to the stone wall simply sliding down crying with her hands covering her face. Sure she had pictured her life doing something different... she had thought that she would become a great water bender and easily protect her home once more with a child and a husband by her side but now she was stuck here?! Suddenly she felt the simply emotion of rage filling her every core, her hands gripped into fist and she placed them over her head, with a blood wrenching scream that echoed through the walls every once of power she had stored and the pipes inside busted, water pressuring the wall causing water to leak from the cracks and holes there.

Alarms buzzed quickly and the stone around her neck tighten, she couldn't breath! Her hands gripped the iron thing to pull and tug at it but when those guards came to stand just a few feet from her and quickly took a stance, "Lady Water Bender!" The captain yelled, standing in front of the fire benders who were ready to attack her if she made a move and she did. Without caring or thinking, she used the water she had and managed to block a few fire attacked but the one from behind hit her square into her right shoulder causing it to burn the clothing and flesh from her body, a scream ripping from her throat. With rage still filling her corner she parted her feet and stood in a still stance before pushed her hands out with a quickly reflex from her wrist and her left foot coming up ever so slightly causing the water around her to splinter and freeze the guards. With a thud she dropped to the ground and sat there, her head bowed forward and resting her hands on her knees but she sprinted right out of that area when more thuds started to come down the hallway towards her. Not what she had in mind for a escape plan but so far it was working... a little bit.

Her gown was ready to fall off her slim form, the burn already stinging the female and ready to scar her skin but she had no time to wast, the fire stones around the palace where being blocked by the power of the benders and she had less than a few moments before they were back up! Turning corner and corner, fire rushing past her face, she finally came into a hallway to see the large wooden gate of the palace, she was close! Quickly she got into stance, her hands shaking when the heat of the guards pressed down to her neck, and readied the water within the walls to come to her but just as she moved her feet and readied to destroy the only think blocking her from freedom, a arm wrapped around her neck and held her against his body. Zuko's warm breath and strong scent filled her body making her kick and scream at him, rage filling every bone of her core, then she stopped and looked up at the male frowning, meeting his eyes and seeing the glare he sent her, it was soon found out why. When she turned back in front of her there stood the power fire leader and Zuko's uncle who looked... Well ready to simple kill the young fire prince!

"Father..." He greeted, his eyes trained on the male in front of him though his arms did tighten in a protective manner around her, "I'll seal her to our room..." He whispered, though it was to late for that in his father eyes. Quickly his father stood in front of the two of them and his hand was placed on her stomach and fire just appeared there! Her eyes widen a fraction before she felt the pain of the fire hitting her right in the middle, a scream leaving her lips while blood pooled into her mouth, her gown slowly falling open when his father took a step back and revealed the blood red burn mark that had now marked her, it should heal somewhat... "Zuko..." The roar of his fathers voice alerted the prince and he dropped Katara to the ground, the young girl falling forward to the ground simply from being worn out and in pain, "Take her to the room... Have the healers there... And mark sure those marks are hidden.." He warned, turning and leaving Zuko, the past out katara and his Uncle standing there in front of the door. It was silent for a few moments, the two awake ones bowing their heads when his father past them ordering for their jailed Earth benders to repair the walls and seal the water once more making his voice echo in the hallways before it faded out leaving them alone.

Without thinking about his actions, he slowly gathered Katara up into his arms before he finally looked up to see Iroh looking at him with a strong glare, in that moment, the one he had been avoiding, he felt ashamed like he had betrayed the male. "Zuko..." Iroh spoke, his hands resting behind his back before he took steps forward to meet Zuko's side, the two of them starting to walk in silence down the hallway towards his room, "Do you know what you have done to this girl...?" Silence answered the old man but Iroh saw Zuko's grip tighten on the sleeping female, blood already pooling to her skin from the unsealed burns on her body, "She is a water bender..." Suddenly Iroh seemed to hiss at him, Zuko stopping just a few feet down from the hallway towards his room, Irog took this as a clue to keep going, "She is not meant to live inside of the fire palace!" Gripping Zuko's shoulders, the old man shook his slightly causing Zuko to growl slightly, "I know uncle!" He frowned, holding the girl tightly to his chest, the old man taking a step back from the young princes temper flare, "I know..." Softly he whimpered and started towards his room once more, "Than let her go..." Iroh whispered, Zuko ignoring him once more only for the old man to get his face slammed against the bedroom door when Zuko locked himself and Katara away in that darkness.

He knew that this was wrong, he knew that Katara should have been free but he couldn't let her go... He couldn't let the only person who he actually wanted, the one thing that he could now have, simply go back into that ice lands where he could never go. He couldn't let them take away the person that made him... Made him feel like a human! Silently he took care of her body, removing her body with the bed padded with warmed towels to help stop the bleeding, and started to silently burn the flesh that was still bleeding. He didn't want anyone to come into the room at that moment... even as she hissed in her sleep, turned onto her side and away from Zuko, the male didn't leave her alone and simply moved behind her to wrap his arms there and held her against him. He knew... Zuko knew! Katara would never see him any other way other as the man that trapped her, basically sentenced her to death, Zuko knew... She would never be happy there, even if she had his kid, hell she would probably kill the child just to keep some what free from him! Silently his hand moved down to her stomach where he had been waiting to see if life was inside of it, and closed his eyes, "Katara.." He whispered, the girl remaining silent as she slept, "...Please... Understand... I can't... Let you get caught up... In my fathers plan..." Nothing greeted him but he closed his eyes and tucked her into the covers silently, "...I can't let Aang take you... I wont... Let you go... Not with the war coming..." Again nothing but Zuko stood up by the side of the bed and moved over to the door where the water benders kept their head bowed and simply walked past him to tend to Katara, Iroh standing there in silence," So what are you going to do...?" He questioned.

Zuko stood there in silence and glanced at the girl who was being healed there in the bed than at his uncle, "...I want her happy Uncle.." For a moment he seemed to smile but the look on Zuko's face silenced him, "...But I can't have her there in the war... I wont let her get hurt, even if she looks at my like a monster..."

Okay so this chapter was a bit odd but I wanted to show how much Katara meant to Zuko in a semi way, Katara was close to running though! Ooh so close~ Anyway, review and tell me what you think!