Chapter 7

Katara stirred a few hours later feeling the ship rock a bit more than normal it's probably raining she thought. She was curled around Zuko, her leg hitched over his hip and her hand splayed across his bare chest. The warmth he emanated enveloped her as she laid there and began lightly drawing circles with her fingertips over his defined muscles and listened to his rhythmic heartbeat. On some level she knew this was wrong, but she couldn't help enjoy the feel of his body pressed against hers, the way he smelled of fire, and the hunger he held in his eyes before devouring her mouth.

She wouldn't have believed it if someone had told her two weeks ago that she would be here in Zuko's arms, or that she would have feelings other than malice, for him. Confusing as they were she could no longer deny her desires. In truth, a large part of her was still angry about his past misdeeds and she knew she couldn't trust him...not yet. But now….now there was a part of her that cared for him and a part that couldn't get enough of his touch. Just thinking about his lips pressed against her body as his hands roamed gently over her skin sent heat coursing through her. She winced thinking about how betrayed Sokka and Aang would feel if they could see her now.

Lifting her head up, she looked upon Zuko's sleeping face and felt her heart squeeze. She attempted to memorize the sharp curve of his jaw, his soft parted lips, his dark eyelashes brushing the top of his right cheekbone, and the fierce red scar adorning his left. Slowly, she reached out and gently ran her fingertips over the soft smooth skin of his scar. Her caress caused his eyes to flutter open and glance down to look into her blue eyes with a half smile. "Sorry" she whispered "I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's alright, it's nearly dawn anyways" he said in a gruff sleepy voice. He reached his hand down to brush her hair from her face. The ship lurched forward and he looked around listening as men shouted and ran down the halls. "Must be a storm" he said as he started sitting up, stopping for a moment to tilt her head up and kiss her good morning. She moaned softly and moved to deepen the kiss. Zuko smiled against her lips and pulled away "I'm sorry I have to go."

"Do you have to" she pouted as she laid back and propped herself up.

"Yes, I need to see what's happening. Don't worry I'll be back for breakfast shortly" he quickly dressed and left. Katara smiled to herself and snuggled back under the blankets for just a few more minutes….


Aang groaned as he felt himself lurch forward. Clutching his head, he blinked in attempt to open his eyes. Pain radiated throughout his body, particularly between his shoulder blades. Sitting up he squinted through the pain as he tried to take in his surroundings.

He was in an unfamiliar metal room adorned with a small table, some cushions, and the bed he sat upon. Across the room was a sliding door. "What? How did I get here?" he mumbled to himself. The room lurched again as he tried to stand, knocking him forward to his knees.

Gasping he stood up and slowly maneuvered his way to the door, though the room swayed. Finally, he stumbled into the hall and made his way towards the stairs. Two guards started to approach him from down the hall and startled Aang, causing him to try to run and trip up the stairs before he fell out onto a stormy deck. Rain pelted Aang's body, chilling him to the bone as he tried and failed to make his way to the railing.

Thunder rolled as lightning split the sky illuminating the men attempting to follow him. He felt his heartbeat race as he pushed forward. Nearly there, just a little more he thought as he reached the side. The two guards closed in around him and grasped his arms "Aang, Aang!" Sokka called over the wind and rain, as Aang struggled to get away "relax it's us!"

Aang stopped struggling and turned to look into Sokka's face. Rain continued falling as the wind howled and lightning lit the sky once again. "Sokka? What happened? Where are we? Why are you dressed in Fire Nation soldier armor? Why…"

"Woah Aang buddy...sloooowww down!" Sokka held up his hands "There is a lot that's happened in the time you've been out, let's get in out of the rain and we can talk" he shouted. Aang nodded and slowly strode back to the door and down the stairs before he turned to Sokka.

"How long?" Aang's voice was constricted as panic rose up in his chest and rain water dripped to the floor.

"Just a few weeks" Sokka shrugged "Not unexpected with what happened." Aang thought back...what happened? After a few moments of contemplating a flood of memories rushed back; from Ba Sing Se, the fight with Zuko and Azula, giving up Katara, and the searing pain of lighting scorching his chest.

"Oh Agni!" Aang shuddered "How am I even alive?" he gasped as he ran his hands over his chest…"She hit my heart! Sokka! How?" Sokka smiled grimly as Aang sputtered.

"Katara saved you." he paused for a moment. "She used the spirit water on you as we flew away from Ba Sing Se" Sokka stopped himself from saying anything more. Aang was fragile he didn't want to run the risk of losing him if he found out Katara was missing. Taking a deep breathe he tried to change the subject.

"Well, since you're awake buddy let me get ya up to speed" Sokka turned and gestured to the ship "This is the Fire Nation ship we obtained about a week ago…all thanks to me and my brilliant plan. We all dress as soldiers and slip through the Fire Nation in their own ship, without them suspecting a thing. Dad and the whole tribe are here, as well as Toph…oh we have Appa in the cargo hold. He's not too thrilled with it but at least no one's following us" he said with a shrug. "We are going all stealth mode for a while until the Day of Black Sun, that way they'll never see us coming!"

"So, everyone is here?" Aang looked around the ship in awe "That's a brilliant plan Sokka, I can't believe it's so easy to travel in the Fire Nation."

"I know...I'm brilliant!" he smiled as Aang reached up to scratch his head in thought and screams, causing everyone to jump.

"I HAVE HAIR!" Aang yelled again as he ran his hands over short bristles that covered his scalp.

"Jeez Twinkle Toes give it a rest. It's not like any of us care! I mean, I personally think it looks great!" she expressed with a smirk.

"Oh...well thank yo…Toph that's not funny!" Aang said as he turned to stare incredulously at her. She and Sokka burst out laughing as Aang rolled his eyes. He slowly turned to walk away, back towards his room, one hand holding his chest. He felt weak and found it a little difficult to breath. "Sorry guys...I just feel tired. I think I'm gonna lay down. Could you tell Katara when she wakes that I'd love to see her? I want to thank her for saving me." Toph and Sokka didn't speak as Aang turned around to look at them. Aang could tell by their silence that something was wrong. "Guys? Is everything alright?"

"Well...uhh…hmmm Toph?" Sokka stumbled over his words.

"Oh no ya don't Snoozles…this is all on you!" Toph said before crossing her arms over her chest.

"Hey! We all agreed not to say anything!" Sokka cried.

"No, we agreed that we wouldn't say anything unless he asked…well guess what!? He's asking...so you need to get to explaining" Toph turned and headed to Aang's room "Let's go Twinkle Toes...if we're gonna talk you need to sit!"

"Come on Aang...we've gotta talk…and...well it's a not gonna be easy" Sokka looked somber as he helped Aang to his room. Aang was confused but knew whatever they had to say it wasn't going to be good.

Sokka helped Aang to his bed and sat down next to him as Toph leaned against a wall. "Aang..." he started as he looked down at the floor. "Aang...when we left…" he took a deep breath as he tried to speak.

"Sokka the monks have always said that it's better to say what's on your mind than to hold it in your heart" Aang said as Sokka sighed.

"Aang...Katara isn't here" he shifted his eyes back to the floor not wanting to look into the young Avatar's eyes. "As we were fleeing from Ba Sing Se. You see you were unconscious and Katara had just finished healing you. Toph had a hold of you when we flew right into an attack. Fireballs flew from every direction and I…I…" his voice cracked "I steered Appa straight up...Toph was holding onto you and the saddle...and...and" he buried his hands in his face "and Katara fell out. I didn't notice until I had cleared the fireballs and heard Toph screaming for me" his voice shook with each word he spoke.

"She fell? But...if she fell why didn't you go back?" Aang whispered "She's not...dead...is she?" There was a long moment of silence.

"We aren't sure. I don't think she's dead...I mean I'm her brother...I'd feel it!" He spoke with his hands "but...if she isn't then they have her…which means Azula and Zuko have her." Sokka hung his head...the weight of losing Katara weighed heavily on him.

"NO!" Aang shouted as he jumped to his feet "She's not dead! We will get her back and if they hurt her…well they better not have hurt her! I'm going to find her..." he gasped and clutched at his chest. Sokka forced a smile at Aang's declaration and insisted he sit down.

"I want to help you find her too Aang...but how about after you finish healing, that way we have a fighting chance. What'd you say?"

"I guess I don't have much choice...but while we wait for me to heal we can ya know research and stuff…maybe try and find her that way?" Aang looked at his friends. "We can't give up hope!"

"We won't!" Sokka said "We just need to take time to figure out how to save Katara and defeat Ozai...should be a piece of cake!" He reached over and grasped Aang's shoulder as he spoke trying to keep the trepidation from his voice.

"Okay ladies, now that the talking is over how about we get some grub?" Toph said in attempt to break up the sadness as her stomach grumbled.


A week had passed since the storm, Zuko opened the door and slipped inside his room quietly. It was late, he had been in town at their final port all day and had just gotten back with Azula. He hadn't planned on staying gone so long but she had drug him through every shop looking at everything from clothes to weapons. They had eaten at a nice tea shop and stopped for a few supplies. As Azula perused the knife collection at a weapon's stand Zuko had wandered over to a nearby trinket stand where they had various items from jewelry, combs, and hair ornaments to purses, sheaths, and satchels. Zuko hadn't expected to find anything within the assortment of junk, but as he had turned to leave he caught a glimpse of the perfect gift for Katara.

He hadn't planned on getting her anything and was a little unnerved by the urge to do so. She was his servant…not his girlfriend...chewing on his bottom lip he shook his head and turned to walk away but stopped. What does it matter if I buy her something? Is it that big of deal? He could if he wanted to...she's mine after all…his "what" he wasn't quite sure. She was more than a servant…but not exactly a girlfriend either. Making his decision he looked over to make sure Azula wasn't paying attention...she might read too much into it. Turning back, he quickly made his purchase and left the stand moving onto a fruit stand to gather some mango's.

As he turned from the door he noticed Katara's curvaceous body draped across the bed. Her hair was tied back in a braid as she slept curled around his pillow. He smiled before moving to the chest and putting away his recent purchases. The food he left on the table for morning, but her gift he took and slid under his pillow before changing into his sleep garments and slipping into bed, soliciting a sigh from Katara as she unconsciously snuggled into his arms.

The following morning Zuko woke to Katara nuzzling his neck and giggling as her hand lightly held his shoulder. Opening one eye he looked down at her as she started to kiss his neck up to his jaw line, then continued trailing a teasing line up to the corner of his lips before she stopped. He turned to meet her lips but she moved and lightly kissed the tip of his nose and grinned wickedly.

He growled and rolled on top of her gently pinning her hands above her head, "That's not fair little waterbender" he said and nipped her bottom lip as he rotated his hips against hers. "You wake me up just to tease me…tsk tsk….that's just cruel" he said with a sultry voice as he kissed along her jaw, his morning stubble rubbed against her soft skin causing her to whimper and squirm.

"Mmmhhmmm, how is it you taste so sweet this early in the morning?" He whispered as he shifted her hands into one of his and brushed the back of his hand down her cheek while looking deep into her hooded dark blue eyes. Her breathing hitched as he ran his fingertips down the side of her ribcage, gently brushing her bound breast. Heat blazed in his eyes as he stared down into her face and his fingers toyed with the edge of her bottom bindings.

Katara wasn't sure why but her senses seemed heightened as she looked into Zuko's molten eyes. As he trailed his fingers over her skin fire spread and as he moved further along goosebumps pimpled her mocha skin. "Zuko" she gasped as he leaned down and nipped the hollow of her neck.

"Tell me waterbender...why would you wake me just to tease me? Hmmm? Do you like being teased?" he whispered in her ear as his knee moved up between her thighs, lightly rubbing against her core soliciting a lusty moan from deep in her chest. "Do you like it?"

"Zuko...Zuko please" she arched her back and pressed up into him. Zuko smirked before leaning down to capture her lips.

"Not yet waterbender...you tease me...I tease you…" he slowly brushed his lips against hers...pulling back each time she pressed forward.

"Ugh Zuko! You're just…just mean!" she growled "I only woke you because you slept in so late." He stopped kissing her and pulled back in confusion. "Didn't you know? The sun has been up for hours." Zuko sat back and looked around...sure enough breakfast was there so he had slept in past dawn. Well there's a first for everything he thought before he chuckled and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Well I got in pretty late, guess I was a little more tired than I thought" he said as he leaned up on his elbows, releasing her before he reached under the pillow. He pulled out a small package and held it out to her. "I came across this and thought…." he cleared his throat "well I…I thought you might like it." Katara's eyes widen as she reached tentatively for the package while sitting up.

She watched as Zuko sat back and bit his lip in a nervous manner as she looked down at the small brown box. Upon opening it she let out a small gasp as she looked upon a beautiful hand-carved water tribe comb. The comb had a slender blue scrolled body tipped with a blooming white lily wrapped around the handle. She bit her lip as a tear ran down her cheek.

"If you don't like it, you don't have to keep it...I just thought it would be something you'd like…like a piece of your old life...I guess it was a stupid idea" he huffed as he pulled back, crossed his arms, and glared at the floor clearly under the impression he had failed. Katara threw her arms around Zuko and hugged him tightly, catching him off guard.

"Thank you Zuko...the comb is beautiful." Zuko sat frozen as her words sunk in and he relaxed. He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into the hollow of her neck. Above their heads a horn blew causing them to pull apart as Zuko looked at the ceiling. "What's going on?" Katara asked. Zuko turned to her, golden eyes falling into blue.

"We're here…we're home" he whispered.