A/N: This is so overdue it's not even funny. I'm in the middle of writing the next chapter, and I have to say, it will be the best yet :) I'M SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! I'M A TERRIBLE PERSON

Anyways, this was a really fun one to write :D SO REVIEW AND TELL ME IT'S AWESOME!


Katara struggled with the decision, watching the healers peel away the sheets of Zuko's bed, and laying him carefully down so his head was evenly supported. This is how they think he would be content with sleeping; back and legs straight and pressed together, his arms tucked under covers, and glued to his sides. But in reality- from all the experiences Katara had seen of the sleeping prince- he usually rolled somewhere halfway between his side and his stomach. One arm would always be under his head, the other gripping whatever sort of earth or bedding that lay beneath his nose.

The way the healers placed him now seemed uncharacteristic for Zuko, and even his position on the cot in the infirmary looked slightly less alienated.

Doubt was heavy in the air. Of course this wasn't going to work, but the foolish men and women seemed particularly demanding that they move their leader into a more comfortable situation. Two days had gone by, and still he let not even a sound escape his pale lips. The concern was great, so they opted to move him.

This led to them also dragging an extra bed into the room for Katara to sleep on. They could not disobey a direct order from the Avatar, and Katara would have refused to leave his side anyways. Besides, it wasn't as though the room was lacking in the proper space for there to be one more piece of furniture to share the area. In fact, ten more of the small beds would not even fill the entirety of the room.

Firebenders and their luxuries.

Katara wanted nothing more than a small bed and simple washroom were she was concerned, and this was accomplished with a small screen in the corner of the room that gave a small space for Katara to freshen up and change behind. To her relief, a small wardrobe had been shoved into the little space, hosting trousers and shirts that had collars, long sleeves that she could easily role to her elbows, and deep V-necks that she found to be a small relief from the tight clothes she had worn since her arrival.

She had changed almost as soon as the healers had abandoned the room, taking a cloth soaked in warm water (which came from some sort of pipe in the wall just over the washbasin) to her aching body before reaching over and pulling the too big shirts and pants on. The thick scent of that wonderful liquid she had shared with Suki drifted to her senses as the fabric hung on her curves like a blanket. She then proceeded to wash her hair for the first time in a long time, with a spicy smelling soap that left a lingering scent, mixing with her normally subtle ocean aroma to intoxicate her lungs.

In truth, this felt fantastic. Before long though, she had to snap back to reality as she let her hair hang in long wet tendrils down to her waist, not bothering to bend the locks dry. She enjoyed the feel of her element weigh her down, giving her comfort as she sat on the side of her bed. Her eyes could not help but lock on the sleeping figure for a moment before letting her body slowly lower itself onto the wonderful mattress beneath her fingers.

The days following her conversation with Suki had been long, and she tried not to sleep for more than a few minutes, avoiding everyone- except Suki on occasion- at all costs. She processed the words shared between the two of them over and over, not quite sure how she would tell Zuko any of it. She wasn't even sure whether her dream was not just that; a dream. Anyways, she didn't want to be the one to give him the news of Mai and Ti Lee. She knew he had loved the knife throwing, emotionless, beautiful girl; his conversation with Sokka a while back had been enough to prove it. His wistful voice had caressed her name so gently; Katara felt her stomach twist in knots. No one had ever spoken her name like that before, as if the whole world revolved around no one but her. She found the prince's ability to even be able to speak like that annoying in and of itself.

He was supposed to be the enemy, the strong enemy that had become a friend almost hesitantly. Yet he could speak words of love for a girl. Granted a very unemotional sort of girl that hated the world, it was still hard to imagine Zuko with more than just anger and calm nothing to share with anyone in particular.

Then the picture of his tortured expression as she slowly walked away from him plagued her conscious. He had been so down, so defeated when she had left him alone that she simply could not believe the reality that hit her square in the face.

He was only human.

With this she closed her eyes, opening then to the sound of a waterfall, and a guarded amber expression looking down at her thoughtfully.


Senseless banter was often something that didn't happen between Sokka and Suki. She would usually listen to him calmly and give her opinion on the matter. She did not often enjoy quarreling like every other strange couple in the nations, and when upset usually remained silent. He would come and he would comfort her.

He was doing this now, making her feel at ease as he trailed his fingers down her bare skin. He sat beside her body, and watched her breath evenly, her eyes trained on the wall.

She smiled, "I'm just glad she's doing better." She said with a contented sigh. And it was true.

Katara had even managed a smile earlier that day, hinting she was not as far gone as she seemed. Granted she was dreading this confrontation with Zuko, but Suki knew she could handle the hot head fairly well. In fact, she wouldn't be surprised if Katara found a completely reasonable way to explain the situation, and then make him smile afterwards.

Suki didn't share these thoughts with her love though; promising Katara she wouldn't tell anyone was something she took with complete seriousness. She was not a betrayer.

Sokka chuckled, "She's Katara, she always bounces back and takes the weight with pride. She's very strong."

At this Suki sat up, letting the sheet on top of her settle at her waist. She was not afraid to show her body, and didn't even care that Sokka was staring at her curves rather than her puzzled features, knowing he was male.

"Sometimes…" she muttered, "I think, after Zuko wakes up, she will be herself again. She's just worried."

"Yeah." Sokka snapped away from his gawking and rubbed the back of his neck, "I don't understand why she feels so responsible for this. If anything, I wouldn't have it another way."

Suki let her brow rise slightly in question.

Sokka blushed, "In other words, if he hadn't have saved my sister, I would have killed him."

They stare at one another for a moment, before Suki burst into a fit of laughter. The warrior just could not picture Sokka, of all people, winning a battle to the death with the prince of the Fire Nation.


He was relieved to say the least. After so long with just darkness, waking up to see the waterbender laying before the pond, with a calm expression was enough to let his shoulders relax slightly. He walked slowly, holding his chest and wincing slightly, towards her unmoving figure and kneeled down to watch her naturally beautiful facial expressions as her eyes started to flicker.

He couldn't deny her beauty, that would be an insult to her honor and with Zuko's experiences , he didn't want to lay that sort of insult on the girl. Still, it wasn't as though he cared about the way she looked.

She was truly a wonder to the firebender, though; her skin completely smooth with an almost airbrushed complexion, and her eyes that appeared naturally shaded with such wonderful blues- he felt he was back on his ship rocking in the waves. Those ocean eyes stare back at him for a moment, questioning his quizzical orbs before slowly letting her hands lift her into a sitting position.

He caught a glance at what she was wearing at that moment, confused almost instantly. She wore his old clothing, pieces he had used when he wanted to walk around the palace village in a sort of disguise- his scar was always a dead giveaway, so trying to hide was futile- back when his father had accepted him back with open arms. It was a strange contrast with this girls light eyes, and dark colored hair and skin, but suited to her style better than the other insulting garbage he had seen her wear. She even looked… appealing in a sense.

He shook the thought from his mind and offered a grim smile, which she returned with a blank nod.

"Err… Hi?" he offered which cracked a small grin from her lips.

"Sure that will work."

Then she looked away, her eyes darkening at the prospect of telling him everything she had discovered, and the decisions made for him in his state. She knew he would not enjoy the news, and more than anything feared his reaction to the loss of Mai.

"Is something wrong?" he knew the answer even before she shook her head in confirmation.

"What is it?

"I want to try a healing session first." She countered, and moved away so he had to stare at her back before grunting in acceptance.


Toph thought she was going insane. Her entire body seemed to just tremble with adrenaline at the thought of just sparring like a free spirit again. She missed the way the fight used to lighten her mood and entire self with just the first move. And every time they seemed to just become more and more challenging. Aang was improving his skills with the seismic sensing, and Toph had to say, she was very impressed.

This was the third fight since noon and still she couldn't manage to escape Aang without a bruise or scrape here and there. Aang had been concerned the first time she was knocked off her feet, but as soon as a wave of boulders hit him, he knew she wouldn't take the sympathy. Instead, he continued to pound the girl with round after round of rocks and dust. Quite frankly, the two of them were having the time of their lives.

Eventually, the sun lowered to the point the two were forced to stop their intense work out. Toph felt the small lift in Aang's spirits as they walked along the hallway laughing with one another at their adventures of the day. For the first time since learning of Zuko's comatic state, Aang was enjoying himself. It was strange that the source of his slight joy was Toph, but he didn't mind particularly. He loved the distraction she presented in the form of a friend.

"So, should we try again tomorrow?" Toph asked lightly, playing with her earlobe with her first two fingers. She wasn't sure why she had started this little habit, but she found that it occurred every time her pulse would pick up speed.

Aang didn't miss the little motion, and felt a small blush creep up his neck. It sounded to him as though Toph actually wanted to do this more and more. He was surprised to find that he had no objections. Except one.

His tone and throat took on a very serious tone, and he looked away from his friend ashamed, "I can't."

Toph whipped her head in his direction, her eyes not quite on him, "Why not?"

Her face had become blank, her tone just as serious as Aangs, and he shifted uncomfortably. He never liked it when her voice took on that heaviness. He preferred it to be light and happy, much like it had been only moments before.

"I-I have a meeting. The Fire Lords want a settlement on the uprisings."

Toph didn't reply to this, merely shrugged her shoulders and began to walk down the hallway, seemingly unaffected by this little put down. She wouldn't admit it then, but she lowered her head in disappointment.

Little did she know, young Aang was doing the same, his feet carrying him in the opposite direction.

"Maybe some other time," he whispered to no one.


Zuko hissed in pain when Katara fingered the tight wound. Her fingers were chilled and felt like stinging ice on his skin, something a firebender never had pleasure feeling. She had been starring at it with narrowed eyes for almost a half an hour at least. The Fire Prince was becoming frustrated with the younger bender, especially since she refused to tell him anything while she was attempting this healing session.

"Dammit, Katara," he spat, causing the girl's finger to pause in their actions, "Stop prodding me and tell me what the hell is going on."

Katara bit her lip, her previous attitude while healing the annoying firebender gone in an instant. She leant back and let him struggle into a sitting position, refusing help as always. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at this stubborn display and sat back against the small post of the bridge. She liked the view from this angle, the light playing with the scales of the koi fish and bouncing into the waterfall like a dancing light display.

Her attention was firmly planted on this as she began to speak to the heaving firebender. As she spoke, she felt herself distancing from the situation, and lost herself in the sudden glare Zuko gave her when she finally ended her news. She hadn't left anything out, and she had noticed the slight lowering of his shoulders when she mentioned Mai and Ti Lee.

He had nothing to say. He sat in brooding silence, playing with her words precariously in his head and running them over and over again.

"So all of this is really happening?" he asked uneasily, his voice tight.

Katara winced and clenched her fists tightly. She couldn't hold his gaze anymore, and rolled her neck to the side, her eyes catching sight of the Moon Pool.

"How long has it been?" he asked quietly, bringing her head swinging back to look at his defeated face, "Since… they…"

"Six days," she said softly as he started to fade off.

He sighed and hardened his jaw, "Well, I suppose they had it coming."

Katara shot him a very harsh look and swung her hand out to catch the back of his head, a very easy feat from the angle he sat at, "You loved her, don't be that way."

Zuko looked at her straight on his eyes narrowed with a smirk plastered on his face, "Is that impression you get from me?"

The waterbender rolled her eyes and gave him a pointed look. He didn't say anything more, but she could see his eyes held a small light in them.

"It was an arranged marriage," he said after a moment of silence.

Katara couldn't resist leaning forward to let her arms rest on her knees. She had never heard him speak this way for someone else, and it was fascinating to watch him chuckle. She was confused.

"So you didn't love her?" she asked, although it sounded more like a toneless statement.

Zuko shook his head, "I never said that,"

"Then why are you smiling?"

He paused for a moment and raised a hand to his cheek, his fingers wandering to the comet scar covering his eye. Katara studied his profile for a moment and took in the way his loose hair fell in such enticing locks over his eyes. She mentally slapped herself for thinking this and watched as he touched the base of his eye thoughtfully.

"She never did," he said finally, a single tear falling from the corner of his eye, "She never smiled. I made a promise to myself one day, that if anything ever happened, I would smile for her. I hated her so-" he coughed and winced.

Katara couldn't say anything to this, and watched as the firebender continued to smile, and chuckle. He kept chuckling, and smiling until tears had flooded the brims of his eyes, and he could do nothing but sob into his open palms. She sat there, a hand moving forward to rest on his shoulder, but she paused just before she touched his bare arm.

How do you comfort a grieving man? She could have held him close to her like she would her brother or Aang, but that just didn't feel right when he was crying too profusely. This firebender, was sitting before a former enemy, and crying his heart out.

"I hated her so much," he stuttered suddenly, turning to look at Katara with a smile, "that I loved her. Makes no sense, but it was easier than giving my heart to her, and receiving nothing in return."

And Katara understood, for she felt as though she would have done the same thing.


So this was a little lighter, but it will be really cool in the next chapter :) I PROMISE!

Anyways, REVIEW I WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOU ALL THINK!

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