Hello, persons, I know this fanfic hasn't been all that good, but I know for sure, it'll get better. I know I've already said this, but hang in there! And don't forget to tell me your suggestions and all that. Just PM me or put it in the reviews. Thanks!

(Katara's POV)

Okay. I guess I kinda overlooked the fact that I couldn't get over to the Southern Water Tribe by foot, or ostrich mule. I need Appa. And we all know that's not happening.

I thought about my resources. Aang and Appa were outruled. Sokka. Okay, so I don't reallly want to bother Sokka, plus I don't know what he could give me. He doesn't have a ship, or submarines. Toph would probably not give a damn about my issues. I guess I could mooch some money of her tab, but I don't like the idea of owing Toph anything. And that leaves me with Zuko. Mighty, all-powerful Fire Lord Zuko. I'll take my chances with him.

Zuko would, of course, be willing to help me. He was compassionate, honest, and moral, although sometimes a little grouchy because of all the stress the Fire Lord duties gives him. Zuko is special. Me and him, we are an unstoppable force of fire and water. As soon as I forgave him after he helped me find the man who mauled my mom, we became close friends. Even more so right after the war ended, because he sacrificed himself for me. Yeah, I was kind of in the way during the Agni Kai with him and Azula, but I wanted to be ready if something went wrong. Apparently I really hadn't considered the possibilites, because the odds of her cheating by shooting a lightning bolt at me was pretty high. But yeah. Zuko selflessly took the bolt. I somehow defeated Azula's ass, and rushed to the aid of a hardly-alive Zuko. After bout a dozen healing sessions, he was repaired. In a way, Zuko will always have a closer place in my heart than Aang, because he took the heat for me. I know Aang would if the chance came, but it didn't. And there's a difference.

So anyway, everything was peachy keen until I started traveling with Aang. I mean I guess I should've saw it coming; him being an air nomad and the Avatar and all, but I guess I was too lovesick to care (or was I?). I hardly ever saw Zuko, or Toph, for that matter. Or even Sokka. And I missed them all. Especially Zuko. When Mai broke up with Zuko a little over year after the war ended, I was secretly glad. Mai wasn't good enough for Zuko. But I felt guilty, because now Zuko would be lonely and all. And so I just kept thinking about Zuko as I rode along.

I got to the palace by evening on my little ostrich-mule. I rode up to the palace gate, and all the guards were looking at me distrustfully.

Then a guard, particularly one of the ones I viciously waterbend attacked that one time I was here during the Yu Dao conflict, told the gate guards stuff in hushed tones. He then looked at me unforgivingly and scurried off. The gate guards had their backs turned to me, apparently discussing whether or not to let me through.

Then something caught their attention. And mine too. It was ultimate, supreme Fire Lord Zuko. The guards bowed to him. We stared at each other. Waiting for the other one to say a greeting or a sign of affection. Instead I smirked, walked up to him and took his topknot out, and ruffled his hair. He always kept it at a length where it could just go into a topknot without completely falling apart, but when you took the topknot out, it would just hang there in his face and not go past his shoulders. It looked just like it was right after the war. I seriously could not deny that he looked really attractive.

He grinned at me, and opened his arms. I returned the smile, and stepped into his embrace. He smelled like spicy cinnamon. And I couldn't ignore the fact that he was tall now, probaby six feet or so. He was also well muscled. I could feel it with his arms around me. Zuko was no longer the troubled boy he was four years ago. He was a man. A leader of his people.

It was weird. I had seen Zuko pretty often since the war ended, because Aang worked with Zuko pretty often, so I probably should've noticed these differences. But I had never stood close to him or hugged him when Aang was nearby, because Aang was so sensitive. Nonetheless, Zuko's embrace felt familiar and comforting.

Zuko dismissed the guards, and he led me to the palace. We sat in one of the many living rooms, and servants brought us tea. He blew on his tea. "I heard about the whole thing with you and Aang."

"What about it?" I asked defensively.

"Nothing. It's just I don't get it," he replied calmly, sipping his tea.

"What is there to get? I felt like I was being held down in a meaningless relationship,"I retorted.

Zuko raised an eyebrow. "Harsh."

"I speak only the truth,"I said indignantly, thrusting my chin in the air.

"It doesn't seem like you loved him too much."

"I did. I'm not the same person I was four years ago when the war ended. But I'll still always love him. Just not that way."

Zuko seemed to dismiss the subject, "What next?"

"Southern Water Tribe."

"Learning the deep forbidden secrets of waterbending?" he mocked.

"That's right,"I winked at him.

"Really? I thought you were the last waterbender of the Southern tribe."

"No, you idiot. Do you know how many people have moved from the Northern tribe since I left? I mean, even Pakku's there now." I said, feeling superior.

"Oh. Wait, then what are you doing here?" he asked what I was dreading.

"Um..Well," I started.

"...you want me to help you get there," He finished.

I gave him a weak grin. "Is that okay?"

"The only thing I can offer you is a Fire Nation navy ship," Zuko warned.

"I'll take what I can get."

He sighed. "Your ship will be ready in the morning. Better get some good night's sleep." Zuko led me to my room, wished me goodnight, and was about to leave.

"Please don't go,"I pleaded.

"I don't think this is a good idea,"Zuko said hesitantly.

"Prude," I smirked.

He grinned at me. "I'm really gonna go now."

"Please don't go," I repeated.

"What do you want? I already gave you your own Fire Nation navy ship, what else could you ask for?"

"Tell me a story." I said childishly.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Fine." He sat down on the armchair in the corner of the room, unwilling to sit down on the bed next to me. I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Hey, you wanted this story. Mocking me isn't gonna help your cause."

"Okay, okay."

"So I was at Ember Island on a forced vacation this one time right before the solar eclipse with my sister, Mai, and Ty Lee. We went to a beach party, but after we ruined the guy's house, we weren't invited to anything else, and nobody wanted to be around us. So we were sitting around Lo and Li's house for the next two days, when finally Lo and Li told us to go to the arcade."

I yawned.

"So we were pretty much insane with boredom, so we agreed to go. I won this little firebending shot game, and I won a plush tiger bear. I offered it to Mai, but obviously she refused. Then Ty Lee came to get us, telling us that Azula wanted us. She looked at my tiger bear and commented that it was cute. I gave it to her. Azula wanted to show me this game where two people pick a character, then those characters battle each other in this little game ring, with you controlling the characters with a joystick thingy. Azula had been practicing this game for hours on end for perfection. She wanted to play me. She chose the character Aang, and I picked my own character. Each character had several lives. She beat me the first few times. Then I beat her once. She got mad, and used the special firebending move on her charcter, who demolished my guy's face. Then I used firebending to propel my dude, a little too viciously and blew the whole game up. The end."

I was drifting in this land between conciousness and sleep. I felt something comforting and warm on my cheek that spread throughout my body. Then I drifted off.

(Zuko's POV)

I kissed her cheek before I left the room. I love Katara. I won't deny it. But I've always wanted what's best for her, and Aang's always been what's best for her. After the war, I hadn't seen her very often. I thought I could forget about the way I felt about her, but tonight changed all that.

Katara liked Aang. I liked Katara. Mai liked me. Unrequited love.

I've never confided my love for Katara with anyone. Not even with my uncle. It's hidden deep inside of me, covered up by denial, which I eventually believed myself. And it has to stay that way. Katara just broke up with Aang. It would be really inconsiderate to start something up with up with her. Maybe later someday. I'm probably flattering myself. It's not like Katara would want to start something up with me anyway. To her, I'm just a close friend. Who am I to ruin that?

I restlessly toss and turn. I finally fall asleep, dreaming about the ocean, and the color blue.

Sorry if the last part is kinda crappy. I keep thinking I can watch movies and type up chapters at the same time, but I can't so it didn't turn out so great. I didn't really mean to have so much of this in Katara's POV, but it turned out that way. I'll try to have less of it next chapter. Don't forget to review!