They say love hurts
I wrote that book
I climbed that wall I had one look
But you just came around
To say hello

Zuko opened his door to a pair of shining blue eyes. His heart soared at the sight of her, but soon plummeted to the pit of his stomach as he saw the tears glistening on her cheeks. Taking her slender form into his arms, he whispered into her hair, "Katara, love, what's wrong?"

She just shook her head and pushed away from him, not meeting his eyes. "I'm sorry Zuko. We can't do this anymore. I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry." With that, she turned and ran, her braid swaying violently as she went.

Zuko just stared at her departing form, too shocked to react. His world was crumbling around him once more.

The streets were filled
With guilty hearts
And here was I right from the start
And I lost everything
When I lost you

Aang came to fetch him. He had been absent all day and he was worried. Knocking on the door tentatively, Aang waited. The door was wrenched open, and Zuko stood there, hopeful eyes searching – but not seeing what he was looking for. His face fell. "What's wrong Zuko? We haven't seen you all day. I was starting to get worried." Zuko just shook his head, scowling.

"It's nothing." It's you. You and Sokka and everyone else.

"Oh. Ok. Well, dinner is ready. Come on!" With that, Aang bounced away.

Zuko just sighed sullenly, following. As he neared the rest of the Gaang, he saw Sokka look at him with slight suspicion. He had seen his sister crying multiple times that day, and while she said nothing about it, he was positive it had something to do with a certain firebender.

So tell me why-y-y-y
Should I let you go
Give me 20 good reasons
I need to know, yeah

Zuko avoided his gaze. It was you. She couldn't tell you because she thought you'd hate her. She couldn't tell you or Aang or anyone, so we had to keep secret – had to lie. It's all your fault... My fault. Why did I let her in? And then why did I let her go?

And at that point
There was no pain
There was no sky
There was no rain
For all there was was you
And your sweet face

The clouds were heavy and angry, bearing the rain he desperately needed to feel, washing away his sorrow. But it didn't come. He had watched them roll in throughout the day, and all he wanted to do was see it rain – so he could think of her. She was a waterbender. Feeling the rain on his skin would be like having her hold him again – if only for a while... Not that any of it mattered anyway. There was no rain. It wouldn't come. It never did when he needed it to. Nothing was ever there when he needed it. Nothing except her. Now even she was gone. He had nothing. Nothing left...

But life is life
And things will change
Like scenes upon an actor's stage
Tomorrow comes today
For all we know

He couldn't take it anymore. He was tired of wallowing in self pity. Tired of watching his life unfold before him presenting fresh and new unpleasantries and unable to do anything to stop it. He was different now. He was stronger. Thanks to Katara, he was what he was before the Agni Kai. He was human. A man. A man in love. He had to find her.

Running through the dilapidated air temple, Zuko desperately searched for Katara. He called her name to no avail. Finally, when he was at the point of giving up, he heard hushed sobs from a room he had just passed. Without a second thought, he turned back and opened the door.

So tell me baby why-y-y-y
Should I let you go
Give me 20 good reasons
I need to know, yeah
Give me 20 good reasons
Give me 20 good reasons
Give me 20 good reasons
To let you go

Striding over, he took Katara in his arms again and whispered into her hair, "Give me twenty good reasons Katara. Twenty good reasons why I should let you go." Startled blue eyes looked up at him.

"We would never work."

"How do you know?"

"We're too different."

"Opposites attract."

"We're too young - "

"Yet we're old enough to be leading a rebellion."

"Zuko, you're fiery, quick to anger – you know. And, well, I'm calm - "

"Yin and yang."

"You're going to be firelord one day! Your people would never accept me!"

"If I were Firelord, I would do as I pleased and my people would have get over it."

"Zuko..."

"Katara?"

"I... we can't..."

"Running out of reasons yet?"

"No! You're firenation!"

"No. I'm Zuko. Exile of the firenation, and until I bring down the Fire Lord and take the throne, technically I'm not firenation."

"But you are!"

"Yet I'm still helping Aang learn firebending. I'm here helping you lead this rebellion. I'm here with you. I'm not firenation. I'm not a collection of evil wrongdoers. I'm one guy. I'm Zuko."

"Fine... Aang... he'd be heartbroken..."

"Everyone gets hurt sometime Katara. You can't protect him forever. Besides, I happen to have noticed his eye straying to a certain Earthbender more often than it should."

"No way!"

"Yes way. But that's beside the point. I think you have about eleven reasons left."

"Zuko.. this is silly."

"Yes it is, but that's not a good reason. Ten left."

"That wasn't a reason! You're being ridiculous."

"That's right, it wasn't. Nor was that. Nine left."

"What? Look Zuko, watertribe tradition is that we have arranged marriages - "

"Come off it Katara. We both know that no one could ever capture you in a marriage you didn't want. Eight left."

"Zuko, if you don't stop this I will hurt you."

"I have to admit, that is a formidable threat... but this is important. Seven left."

"Mai - "

"Don't even start. Six left."

"You could have anyone Zuko. Anyone. Why would you choose me? I'm not good enough for you. You're royalty, and I'm... a peasant. From the only known hole above ground."

"The Southern Watertribe is not a hole above ground. And if anything, you're too good for me. You're a better person than I am. Anyway, you should know that stuff doesn't mean anything. Five left."

"I have responsibilities Zuko. I can't afford to give you any more attention than anyone else, or this place will fall apart!"

"In case you haven't noticed, in the time since you first came to me and told me we couldn't be together anymore, you've been no where to be found and we were falling apart anyway, with or without me in your life. Four left."

"Exactly! With or without you in my life, we will all fall apart. There's the reason."

"Yet with me, at least we're happy while the world is crumbling around us. Three left."

"You can't be serious. Look... Sokka would have a fit. He would kill you. He would never talk to me again. I love him Zuko, he's my brother. I couldn't do that to him."

"Sokka would have a fit. He would try to kill me, but fail miserably. He'd get over it Tara. Besides, haven't you noticed the way he always misses when he goes to hit Ty Lee? Two left."

"What? Everyone misses when they try to hit her Zuko."

"Not so deliberately. Notice too, that she has never really tried to hurt you guys either. My guess is, she's interested and doesn't want to mess things up with your brother."

"No way..."

"Yes way. Now come on. Two left."

"Zuko, my dad. He would never accept this. My mother was killed by a firenation soldier! I know that it wasn't you, but I'm not so sure he could make the same distinction!"

"Not that I have much experience, but aren't fathers – normal fathers – supposed to want their kids to be happy? Wouldn't this make you happy Tara?"

"Yes, but - "

"Good. One left."

He looked down at her and felt her body begin to shake again, tears welling in her eyes again. He rocked her gently and kissed the top of her head, silently waiting for her answer.

"I couldn't take it Zuko. If you were - " Her voice was cut off by a violent sob, and the dam walls were broken. Tears streamed down her face, her body shook and her face contorted in anguish. He continued to rock her back and forth, whispering comforting nothings in her ear, trying to settle her.

"We're in a war Zuko! Any-of-us could be killed! You could be killed! I... I couldn't – I couldn't take it! I can't lose you! But if we aren't – If we don't – I'd have nothing to lose! I can't lose someone else Zuko! I just can't!"

He looked at her in shock, turning her face so he could look into her eyes.

"Is that what's bothering you?"

She didn't answer. She didn't need to. Her closed eyes and seeping tears were all the answer he needed. Holding her closer still, he kissed the top of her head.

"You know I'll never leave you, right? I'll fight. I'll fight everything so I can stay with you. No one can take you away from me, or take me away from you. You're mine Katara. I'm yours. I'll protect that. Death won't take me, I won't let it."

She just sobbed harder.

So tell me baby why-y-y-y
Should I let you go
Give me 20 good reasons
I need to know, yeah
Tell me baby why-y-y-y
Should I let you go, yeah
Give me 20 good reasons
I need to know, yeah
Give me 20 good reasons
Give me 20 good reasons
Give me 20 good reasons

Later that night, the two walked out hand in hand, ready to confront the young Avatar and watertribe warrior. Toph already knew about them, of course. While she covered for them at every turn, they both knew that it was time to come clean and tell everyone about their being together, and that nothing would change that.

Just before they reached the light of the fire, Zuko pulled Katara in for a quick, chaste kiss for strength. Something told him they would be needing it.