Chapter Four- Time Flies When You're in Love

The next day, Katara and Toph were to go to town for supplies and to rendezvous with Zuko's uncle while Zuko and Aang practiced, and Sokka was to find a room and clean it for Zuko's uncle. Katara and Toph landed Appa in a hidden from view glade a few minutes from town, and hopped off. As they walked into town Toph said,

"So, how's it going with Zuko? You two hooked up yet?" Katara blushed deeply.

"No, we haven't. Really, all that happened was, he saved my life."

"What?!" Toph exclaimed. Katara explained the events of the previous night while they picked out food. "Let me get this straight: you two were hugging, in the middle of the night, after he'd saved your life, and you'd had a laughing fit together, and nothing else happened?!" she said, taking a apple Katara pushed at her, and putting it into their bag.

"Toph! I don't even know if he likes me. What if he thinks I'm still…I don't know, untrusting and annoying. I know that's how it was when we were trapped in Ba Sing Se…" she trailed off, looking at fabrics for new clothes, which everyone was in need of.

"Oh my god! You two are so head over heels, and yet you two are the only ones who don't notice!" Toph exclaimed as they bought some cloth and moved on down the street.

"What about Sokka?" Katara asked, getting pale.

"Oh, I'm sure he'd probably have really noticed it by now, but he and twinkle toes have canceled out the very possibility, so they'll deny it for a while, although Aang has grown up over the last few months." Toph said.

"Oh boy, I hope Sokka stays that way…" Katara murmured as they entered the tea shop. A man in the corner waved them over saying,

"Ladies! Won't you two join me for some delicious tea?" He asked, smiling. They walked over. And offered them some tea, which was hot even though it had been sitting there for a while, proof that this was Zuko's uncle. They drank, then set their cups down and smiled at each other.

"Wow, that's really good…" Katara's voice trailed off.

"Call me Iroh." He said, smiling.

"It was delicious, Iroh." Katara said, grinning.

"Alright, Uncle, lets hurry up and get down to business." Toph said, resisting the urge to put her feet up on the table. "What do you know about scorpions?" she asked, a grin in her face as she felt Katara's heart flutter next to her.

"They hate fire and can't swim very well, why?" Uncle asked, a confused look on his face.

"Oh, no reason…" Toph said, and Katara's eyes gleamed. They stood and left the tea shop, heading back out of town. Katara picked flowers along the way, and put a few in hers and Toph's hair. Uncle chuckled.

"Very nice, ladies. Impressing someone?" he said, and this time they both blushed.

They climbed aboard Appa, who took off quickly, wanting to get back to Aang. Iroh grabbed onto the edge of the basket at first, but then eased his grip and eventually let go. Katara laughed, remembering the first time she'd seen Zuko on Appa. As they landed at the air temples and unloaded, Iroh asked, "Now where is my nephew? Don't tell me he didn't want to see me?" Just then an explosion could be heard, and a plume of smoke billowed out of one of the temples. "Ah, there he is." He said and calmly sauntered along, with two worried girls trailing him.

When they reached the temple, they found two boys, covered in ash, one laughing and one who was not so happy.

"Aang! How is that even possible?!!! This is a simple move!" Zuko exclaimed frustratedly, trying to brush the ash off but just smearing black everywhere.

"Oh my god! What happened?!" Katara said, worried. "Are you guys alright?!" Zuko looked over and blushed. He didn't want her to see him like this, especially when she was looking even better than normal…

"Zuko! How are you!" Uncle exclaimed happily. Zuko's eyes widened, and a small smile flashed across his face for a split second.

"Uncle? I thought you weren't coming for a few days!" He exclaimed, trying to wipe ash off his face Katara opened her flask and bended some water gently onto his face, cleaning the ash away.

"T…thank you." He said quietly, before going over to talk to his uncle.

"OH CRAP! GET IT OFF MEEEEEEE!" Sokka yelled running into the room, a snake writhing around on him. Aang ran over and blew it off with a blast of air, where it dropped to the ash covered floor and slithered away, leaving a trail behind it. It also knocked Sokka to the floor.

"Oh, oh god. Thanks, buddy." He looked around. "What happened here?" Aang grinned.

"Bad news, Katara." Sokka said, turning to her. Everyone turned to listen. "You'll have to give up your room for a few days- this whole place is infested. I couldn't find another room that would be safe for someone to sleep in. You can sleep in my room" He said. Katara sighed. She finally got her own room, and those stupid scorpions ruin it.

"Alright. I'm gonna go start dinner. Aang, Zuko, go wash up, and Sokka, you can move my stuff out of my room." She said. She walked over out, heading for the kitchen. Aang blew the ash off himself and Zuko, then went to talk to Toph, and Sokka led Uncle up to Katara's room, so he could move her belongings. Zuko slipped out and headed for the kitchen, where Katara was taking fruits out of their bag for the meal.

"Need any help?" he asked, and Katara fell over with a small shriek. Zuko rushed over and helped her up. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean to sneak up on you!" He apologized feverishly. Katara smiled.

"It's okay. Really, I'm fine, seriously! You just surprised me, I'm sorry." She said. Zuko blushed. She was so cute… "I could use some help, though. I need to chop all of this up, and I'm really bad with watermelon, I really am. Could you?" she asked. They both reached for it at the same time, and his hands landed on hers. They looked at each other, blushing furiously, Katara let go. "I'll go get a knife…" she murmured, turning away.

They were pretty quiet for a few minutes.

"Hey, if you don't want to sleep with your brother you could… I mean…what I'm trying to say is feel free to come to my room." He said, looking at the watermelon fiercely as he cut it. She blushed.

"I'll consider that, Zuko." She said. Both of their hearts were racing.

"Hey! Is dinner ready yet? Twinkle toes' stomach is making weird sounds!" Toph yelled into the kitchen, causing both of them to jump.

"Yes, could you help me with these bowls, Toph?" Katara asked, heart racing.

"Yeah, sure." Toph replied, a devilish grin spread from ear to ear. The three walked out together, and served the food. As the usual dinnertime chatter commenced, Zuko looked at Katara. What possessed him to offer his room… Katara looked at him, and he looked away quickly. After dinner it was Aang's turn for dishes, and Toph stayed with him to help, so everyone else went to bed. Sokka was snoring like an elephant in no time, but Katara couldn't sleep. It was cold on the floor, and even with both hers and Sokka's bedrolls, it was freezing. She thought about Zuko's proposition for ten minuets straight, arguing with herself. Finally she quietly got up, grabbed her flask, and headed to Zuko's room. He was reading by candlelight, and he looked up when she reached his door.

"Katara? You're shivering, is something wrong?" He asked, putting the book down.

"It's really cold- I think it's gonna rain." She said quietly. She got in the bed, pulling the covers tight around her body.

"Are you gonna be okay? Do you need anything?" he asked, concerned. She shook her head and closed her eyes. He blew out the candles and said, "If there's anything you do need, tell me, okay?"

"M'kay." Katara said, already feeling warmer. "Zuko?" she asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yes?" He replied.

"Do…do you…do you approve of Toph and Aang?" she asked, losing her nerve.

"Hmmmm…I suppose. Aang really has grown up, and I bet he'll take care of her they're both getting pretty old now, so I feel that He's responsible enough to take care of these things.. Actually, it's Toph that I'm worried about." He said, chuckling. Katara laughed.

"Yea, that's pretty much what I think, but I'm pretty sure Toph will be good to him. She loves him, a lot." Katara said. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled in the distance, and they fell silent again. It started to rain, and Katara's teeth chattered. Zuko, scooted closer to her.

"Let me warm you up." He said, and she didn't object. After a few minutes, Katara spoke again.

"Zuko?"

"M hmmm?"

"Don't fall asleep yet, okay?" she asked.

"Why not?" he asked, looking at her silhouette in the darkness.

"I don't know…." She said. It started to rain. Zuko leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She kissed back. They kissed for a few more minuets, then broke away from each other. Katara snuggled up his chest and he put an arm around her.

"You're warm…" she murmured into his chest. He ran his hand through her hair.

Half an hour later they were both asleep.