How to Deal

Chapter Seven: Finding Solace and Comfort

I've read over my rough copies & I'm going to warn you of something ahead of time. I've put a lot of songs in here, so excuse me for that. I love music, and you'll soon find that out. So if you're someone who doesn't like including lyrics in stories, I'm sorry, but this isn't the story for you anymore. Now, away from that sidenote. I want to say another thing: the Zutara will now begin! :D But I'm doing this like it should happen if this was real. A relationship can't just blossom as soon as someone has died, so I hope you all like how this all develops, however slow it may be. The best love takes time to build. ;)

Katara woke up in a cold sweat. She was shaking badly and reached for the covers. The crimson silk felt good on her burning skin and she choked down a cry. This was too much for her, why did she go to that damn room?! "How is Zuko possibly handling this?" She got up and went out of her room. She had no idea where she was going, but her gut was leading her somewhere she felt that she needed to be. Everyone had always told her to follow her heart, so now she was putting that advice to use. Her feet patted to the room where she was only hours ago. "What the hell?" Her voice was low, confused. She shook her head and knocked on the door. No point in coming all this way for nothing.

"Come in," came an exhausted voice from the other side. She opened the door and looked inside for the source of the voice. "Oh, hello Katara. Come in, come in." She finally saw Zuko sitting on the bed and walked in.

"I'm sorry for bothering you so late in the night, I couldn't sleep."

"Neither could I." Katara sat down beside him and tilted her head.

"Are you writing?" A pink blush spread across his pale cheeks and he nodded with vigor.

"It's a song I started when Mai first got sick. I'm putting the finishing touches on it right now."

"Can I read it?" Zuko shook his head and gave a shadow of a smile. He looked like an archangel in the dim light.

"Not tonight, I'm getting Uncle to sing it at the funeral."

"If you wrote it for her, why don't you sing it instead? It would mean so much more."

"You think so?" Katara placed one hand on his shoulder and smiled.

"I know so."

"I'm sorry for losing it on you earlier. Nothing like that's ever happened to me before."

"Don't apologize, it's fine. We as humans can't be strong all the time." Zuko laughed, bringing another smile to Katara's face.

"You sound like Uncle." Katara rolled her eyes and Zuko looked down. "I wonder if Mai would mind you opening her chest," he muttered more to himself.

"What?" He pointed at the chest she kept in the corner of the room.

"There seemed to be some connection between you two. Did she ask of you what she needed to?"

"Yeah, it was... odd." Zuko nodded and walked over to retrieve the jewel-encrusted chest Mai left behind. Katara was thanking her lucky stars he hadn't asked what she wanted. What would she tell him?

"Are you going to be able to carry out her last wishes?" She froze, did he already know somehow? This was too awkward.

"I have no idea." Katara looked up at the broken king to see that he was smiling again. He sure did smile a lot when they were together. Almost as much as he had when he was with Mai... Was he just trying to hold himself together?

"So, do you want to look inside with me?"

"I don't know if it's right for me to."

"I don't think she'd mind." He said it like she was giving him some sign from the beyond. She gave in and shrugged, watching as Zuko pulled a key out of his pocket. "You can do the honors," he said in a low voice. Katara wished his voice didn't sound so husky, especially after her visions and memories of him. He reached the key to her and she felt a jolt of electricity as their fingers touched. It was the chemistry she'd been looking for in Aang. Why here? Why Zuko of all people? Was God playing some kind of cruel joke on her? She froze, scared to death at what she felt. "Katara?" She looked up at his very composed face and tried to throw off her nervousness. "Are you ready?" God, if that phrase didn't apply to so many other things right now. Especially things that involved bedrooms and flesh. She bit the inside of her lip and focused herself as best as she could.

"Y... yeah." She pushed the key through the lock and turned it, receiving a slight clicking noise. The top of the chest popped open and Zuko took back the key. He froze this time as he felt something go through his body. It hadn't happened until they had touched, what was going on. He shook off the feeling as Katara reached over inside the chest. He laid the key on the table beside the bed and started to rummage through the chest. Katara saw a piece of paper in the main bottom and picked it up. "Her handwriting was beautiful." Was there envy in her voice? He looked over her shoulder and read it.

"I didn't even know she wrote this. It's... wonderful." He looked at how he was sitting and was slightly startled when he realized he used to sit like that with Mai. He moved a little and went back to reading like nothing had happened. "Katara, will you do something for me?"

"It's according to what it is." He laughed, letting it warm him inside. It was good to laugh, then the pain didn't hurt as much.

"Will you sing this song for me sometime?" He pointed down at the piece of paper in her hands.

"Me, sing?" She suddenly felt very small.

"Just me, it doesn't have to be in front of anyone else. I'd just like to hear it, and from what I've heard, you have a great singing voice."

"I think whoever said that is losing their mind. But if that would make you feel better, I could attempt." Zuko yawned, causing Katara to do the same.

"Thank you, that means a lot." They looked outside and saw that the night sky was clear, meaning that half the night had passed already. "Well, I'm finally sleepy. Maybe this was what we needed. You can look through that some moe while I lay down, just please don't take anything."

"That's okay, I'll just come back tomorrow. Good night, Zuko." Katara smiled as she left and walked back to her room in a much better mood that before.

Aang roamed around the palace until dawn broke. What could he possibly do to atone for his mistake? Who could he ask about this? Zuko was grieving for Mai. Sokka was about as sensitive and knew just about as much on emotions as a rock. Suki wasn't around these days. There was one girl left, and he knew he had to ask someone. He walked down to the dining hall and waited for Toph to wake up. About a half hour later, the door slid open and Toph came tromping through, half asleep. "Good morning, Toph." She turned to Aang with a smile.

"What brings you up so early, Twinkletoes?"

"Couldn't sleep. Can I get your advice on something?"

"Sure, when I get some food in me."

"What do you want and I'll get it for you."

"I dunno, surprise me." Aang smiled gently and went into the cooking quarters. Toph was in a good mood it seemed., making Aang all the more happy to help her. He warmed a strawberry muffin and squeezed her some fresh orange juice. It didn't seem like it was enough, so he prepared a honey cake as well.

"I hope she likes this, I have no idea what she likes." He put it all on a tray and brought it out to her. She was drawing idle patterns on the tabletop peacefully and she perked her face up as she heard the kitchen door open.

"That was quick, and it smells so good." She inhaled deeply and let the aroma go through her body.

"Thanks, I didn't really know what to get you." He placed it all in front of her and took a chair beside the Earthbender. As she picked up the muffin and tasted it, he waited patiently.

"What did you want to ask?" Now he was getting slightly nervous.

"I think I hurt Katara, and I'm beginning to question how I feel about her." Toph perked up on hearing that Aang really was having a conflict in himself and started to get interested fast.

"What made you start to question your feelings?"

"Remember the night we stayed on Ember Island the other day?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I found Katara scared to death in one of the bedrooms. When I went to hold her, she felt indifferent. She was like that when I've held her hand for the past month too. What's going on?" Toph took a drink of her juice and swirled it around in her mouth while she thought.

"Sounds like you guys aren't mean to be a couple. You were better as friends."

"But what about the kiss we shared after Sozin's comet?" Toph shrugged, finishing off her muffin.

"I guess you were both confused. Maybe it felt like it was right or something. I'm sorry, Aang, I don't really know what to tell you. I've never been in any relationship besides a friendship." She offered him half of the honey cake and he took it.

"So if you were me, what would you do?" She popped her half of the cake in her mouth and licked the remaining honey off her fingers.

"I'd ask her how she felt about your relationship. Be prepared for anything though, because it sounds like you two should be just friends. But that's just my opinion."

"But I'm in love with her."

"Still, she may not be the 'one for you'." Aang sighed in compliance, thinking about what she'd said. He finished off his half of the cake and dusted his hands off.

"Thanks Toph, I'm sorry if I bothered you."

"It's no bother. Glad to help." She drank the last of the orange juice and got up. "Thanks for the breakfast, Aang. I loved it." She walked out of the room with a serene smile. Aang laughed loudly and stood up.

"Toph, she's something. But maybe I should take her advice."

Ooh, they finally had time alone. :D It may not have been completely romantic, but let's face it, they both felt the 'sparks' fly. haha! & Aang's having private conversations with Toph & making her breakfast. Could there be something blossoming there too? It's only the beginning, so stay tuned & gimme some love! See yah guys soon!