Ok i am SO sorry for not updating - there really is no excuse for it! This chapter is the result of some serious poking from a certain person who is BOUND to know who she is - well in case she doesn't her name is Random.Gal930 - and it is all down to her! And also because of her i will continue to write and update because she actually got me thinking about stories again! Yay!!

Sorry again - please don't hurt me!!

Chapter 4

The others didn't know what had gotten into her. All they knew was that the Katara they knew and loved had been replaced by an over-sensitive, jumpy, sleep-deprived monster that, apparently, had a bladder problem.

It was odd but whatever she was doing she seemed to be distracted by something. No matter what the task - be it hunting for food, taking her turn on the look-out tree or caring for Aang's wounds - she would always be craning her neck westwards, the direction of the stream. If you watched her for long enough she would look compulsively every few seconds, although what she was looking for was a mystery, and then eventually her eyes would widen, she would drop whatever she was doing (sometimes literally) and excuse herself. She would be going to the 'bathroom' (a pleasant euphemism for the toilet that the gang had invented to prevent the boys getting too crude) or she needed to 'bathe' as she had 'accidentally' spilt something all over herself. Then off she would go running into the forest only to return an hour or two hours later apologising profusely for taking so long.

Sokka would gaze up in wonder at her and mutter something under his breath that sounded dangerously like 'women!', this would ultimately get looks of daggers sent at him by his sister and he would also earn himself a rock up his ass and a flight through the air by an angered Toph.

Toph, however, was also concerned about Katara. Despite their little argument Toph really loved the girl, thought of her almost as a sister, and she could tell that Katara wasn't quite right. Her voice was strained, her heartbeat raced at any loud noise and she was hardly sleeping.

It had been suggested, around the campsite, that someone follow her while she took these little trips, but it had been found that, when it came to actual practicalities, no-one was really brave enough to tail the stressed-out waterbender.

'I just hope she's not doing anything stupid,' thought Toph before she turned over and went to sleep.

"I'm sorry I took so long, I was up a tree," cried a breathless Katara as she jogged up to the fire prince.

He turned round to face her, amusement glinting in his eyes. He didn't need to say anything, all he needed to do was raise one eyebrow and she died a little inside.

"It's a look-out type thing," she hastily explained, "I really don't see what's so funny," she added crossly as Zuko began to laugh and snort.

"You were up a tree?" he scoffed, "that's priceless, the best excuse I've heard yet, 'sorry I'm late, I was up a tree!'" he fell about again enamoured with his own amusingness.

Katara stood tapping her foot waiting for him to finish. It took some time.

Eventually Zuko calmed down enough so that Katara could broach a subject that had been bothering her all week.

'We really need to sort out a proper time to meet, this looking for smoke crap is absolutely ridiculous!'

'But I thought we had already discussed…I can't make a proper time because I have no idea when Azula will let me out of her sight!' Zuko, in fact, knew that Azula would be more than happy to let him meet the little waterbender at any time he wished, the reason he didn't want to specify a time was that it would ruin a little game he had been playing.

They had come up with a plan to signify their meetings. Zuko would send small puffs of smoke into the air when he had reached the stream and was ready to meet her. They were small and unnoticeable enough to be ignored unless you were really looking for them.

Recently though Zuko had been sending the smoke into the air and then hiding from her when he heard her coming, and she always came. For reasons beyond his understanding it amused him to see her running into the clearing, out of breath, panting and bending over with her hands on her knees in an attempt to start breathing normally again. Zuko would watch her expression as she looked around the clearing expectantly and then watch her face crumble into annoyance when she realised no-one was there. He'd sometimes have to keep himself from laughing when she'd sometimes put her hand to her forehead and give herself a shake. The poor girl must think she's going crazy. He'd smile as he watched her leave and then a few minutes later, when it was safe, he'd leave also – ready to come back two hours later and repeat it all again.

'I know what we discussed, and I know it makes sense, but I've come to the conclusion that smoke is just not a reliable method. Do you know how many times I've been up and down the road to this clearing because I thought you were here? A lot – that's how many! I swear the others think there's something wrong with me,' her eyes narrowed as she saw Zuko smirk, 'and I know that's terribly amusing to you Prince Zuko but I think they're going to start following me soon and then we'll both be in trouble!'

As much as Zuko hated to give up his little 'game', what she said made sense. He pretended to think for a little bit.

'You know, I guess I could sneak out at night…I would be able to sneak past the guards pretty easily, they don't really pay much attention to me…I guess midnights as good a time as ever – and you would be able to tell by the moon when to meet me…' he trailed off waiting to hear her answer.

'I suppose that makes sense, yea. I'll just have to find a way to sneak past everyone. I might have to pull the bathroom trick again… we also need to find a new place to meet. It's too dangerous to meet in the same place, plus – it's too close to the camp.' She bit her lip as she realised she shouldn't have said that, she still didn't want Zuko to find the camp, and he still believed that the Avatar was dead. She breathed a sigh of relief as he appeared not to have noticed.

'Well I guess now is as good a time as any to go look for one, and on the way we can swap information.'

'Business before pleasure, hmm?' Smiled Katara wily.

Zuko just smiled and shook his head as they began to trudge through the thick forest.

'So you're meeting her at midnight each night? How romantic Zuzu, I didn't think you had it in you.'

Agni, he hated his sister, she really was a royal pain in the ass!

'It's the only time we could both meet; I've already explained the faults with the previous arrangement.'

'Yes O.K, and everything you've told me is correct? Not trying to pull a fast one on me are you Zuzu? Don't want to end up like our Uncle do you Zuzu?'

The anger was building up inside of him; it took all of his control to stop himself from shaking with the emotion. His hands clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles cut into his palms, not that he minded. The pain was a welcome release.

'It's all true. The Avatar is dead. The rest of his posse as well as the Earth King and the ridiculous bear are hiding out in the woods. They believe they can help the refugees in the city. They won't leave until they do help.'

'Then that makes our job a little easier, doesn't it Zuzu? Keep up the good work and you might just earn yourself some freedom.'

She turned away from him and Zuko, clearly dismissed, walked slowly up to his room. It was smaller than it should have been. Sparsely furnished and decorated in the greens of the Earth Kingdom. He collapsed on the bed and thought about everything that had happened to him recently: the cave, the battle, his Uncle, Azula and Katara.

Katara seemed to enter his head a lot these days, and with her came the waves of guilt that made him sick to his stomach. He would keep telling himself that she was just an uncivilised, stupid water-peasant but deep down he knew it wasn't true. In fact, they had a lot in common. He had found that out when they had been in the cave together - he hadn't spoken to anyone like he had spoken to her then in a long time, well anyone except his Uncle that is. He stomach twinged again as more guilt washed over him.

His Uncle. Nothing could take away the pain of his disappointed look when he saw Zuko standing with his sister. Nothing could take away the pain of his Uncle Iroh being taken away by the guards, and forced to live in that dingy cell at the very bottom of the dungeon, where the water leaked in and the rats ran freely. What would his Uncle say if he could see him now? Betraying a girl who had already lost so much, and for what? A promise of freedom, a promise from someone who had no concept of honour, someone who had already tricked him more than once and who he had learnt very early on in life to distrust.

'Azula always lies.'

He shut his eyes as he felt the beginnings of a headache. But the jumbled mess of his thoughts would not leave him alone. However, in the midst of the chaos a pair of calm blue eyes appeared. They were deep and peaceful, full of serenity and, grateful for any distraction from the turmoil inside him, he lost himself in them as he fell into a dreamless sleep.

I will forgive you if you refuse to review me after i've been such a lazy bum - but i would still like them puppy dog eyes