A/N: Yay, another chapter. I'm pulling through just fine with my personal life and my writer's block is finally diminishing. It's good to come back and see how much people like this story. It feels good to write this story and I'm enthralled at how much you guys are enjoying it. FYI, this chapter contains smut. Enjoy.

jacpin2002: I love romance stories with a lot of caressing and touching. A part of me hopes I'm not over using it, lol.

whothatho: Thank you! It's hard to figure out if my work seems realistic or not. Glad your enjoying it.

Warning: Smut

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender


Don't cry, Katara. She told herself as she clung to her brother. She thought it wouldn't be as hard seeing him leave. Sokka was the closest thing to home aside from her family's portrait. It stung.

"I wish you can stay longer." She admitted. Sokka placed a kiss on her forehead and squeezed Katara tighter. "Me too, Kat but work would only allow me so much PTO days at a time. I promise we'll try to see you around the holidays. Maybe convince Dad to come?"

Her eyes lit up. "That would great! I would love for Gran Gran to come too."

Her brother grinned, parting their hug and going in to ruffle her hair. Katara growled, narrowing an unamused look at Sokka when she went to fix her hair. "You bet." He agreed.

"Call." Suki chimed in, walking from behind Sokka. "We'd love to hear from your more often. Among other things." She winked.

Katara turned her head in an effort to hide her blush, hoping Sokka hadn't noticed. She had taken the time to catch up on some things with Suki, including mentions of Zuko. It was nice having a conversation with someone she could seriously go into depth with. Suki was like the sister she never had and it amazed her how well they got along. She balanced a part of Katara she couldn't quite explain. Sokka was lucky to have her.

"What was that?" Sokka asked quickly, darting between the two ladies who looked as though they were keeping a secret. "What was that exchange?"

Suki laughed, looping an arm around his and tapped his nose with her index finger. "Come on, babe, we have to get to the airport before we miss our flight."

"B-but you two did that look!" He protested, trying to press the issue.

His wife pulled him along. "You must be seeing things. Tell your sister goodbye." She dismissed.

"I-you-she, ugh…Bye, Kat. I love you." Sokka said.

"I love you too." Katara returned. They waved to one another, the apartment going silent as they shut the door behind them.

All Katara could do was stare at the door, overwhelmed with the fact that her family was gone until she didn't know when. She wiped the stray tear from her cheek and sniffed, breathing a sigh when her legs ached from standing in the same spot for too long.

She'll see them again, no doubt.


Zuko flipped through every recap from over the last several months. He had spent the whole weekend including this week wondering why his department P&L had been off. The loss was outrageous and if he didn't find the source and correct it, he could kiss his department and position goodbye. He had worked so hard to get this part of the company's business back on track, he couldn't afford to let it slip or give his father an excuse to criticize or discredit him again. He gets enough of that from Ozai's lap dog as it was.

Zhao made it his personal agenda to mock Zuko at every turn, waving his position in Zuko's face. Not that it bothered Zuko in the least. The less he had to deal with his father, the better and being a Director gave him minimal encounters with him.

The outcome was frustrating. The sales were making great strides yet somehow the money wasn't being deposited in the right areas. Something was amiss and as much as he wanted to spend more time getting to the bottom of things, he still had other duties to attain to. He'll have to review the reports another time among other things.

"What the hell are you doing, Zuko?"

The sound of his sister's voice struck a nerve. She was the last person he wanted to see. Gathering the reports without coming off inconspicuous, Zuko straightened the paperwork back into the file and slid it in the draw of his desk. He would have to lock it before he leaves. "What are you talking about?" He sneered.

Azula clicked her tongue, taking off her sunglasses and setting a palm on his desk with a balled fist on her hip. "Care to tell me what the deal is with you and Mai. She came to my place a few nights ago and mentioned how you refuse to let her back into the apartment."

Zuko folded his hands, a deep frown turning on his lips in a means to restrain his irritation. "Last I checked, it was my apartment. Mai has no claims."

She sighed. "You know that's not what I mean, dum dum. Why are you two not back together yet?"

"Really? Is it not obvious?"

"You understand your relationship with Mai is vital."

"How so? I benefit nothing from being with her other than to consistently get cheated on."

"Mai is the daughter of a governor and would make a great face standing next to the heir in line to a billion-dollar company. Father is pretty pissed hearing it from the governor that you called things off with his daughter."

"I could honestly care less. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

Azula pursed her lips in response, sending a silent glare at her brother for a few moments before shrugging her shoulders and putting her sunglasses back on. "Don't say I didn't warn you, Zuzu."

Zuko huffed, shaking his head and turning to his laptop. "So, when did you care? Isn't it your mission to see me fail?"

"Please, I have no need for such trivial aspirations. Although, I get a kick out of father grilling the hell out of you, the last thing I want is for you to lose your position as heir. I have no interest in running this company. As long as I get my allowance with the little work father allows me to do, I'm perfectly fine. Plus, I'd love to see how far you're going to run this company into the ground before Zhao takes your place." She grinned sadistically.

Zuko shut his eyes. An unhealthy tightening in his chest caused him to clench the front of his shirt. He took a deep breath, counting to ten before the tightening subsided.

This wasn't a rare occurrence. For some reason his father and sister and even Zhao seen him as a failure, despite his right to the company. He began to wonder if all this stress was seriously worth it. But what choice did he have? None that he could think of that wouldn't result in losing everything he worked hard for. How could he give up now?

"Take my advice.; Get Mai back, beg father for forgiveness and get back on track. You can't afford to get on father's bad side for the sake of some girl you met on the street."

Katara?

"Don't look so shocked, Zuzu. Father knows everything about your little fling-"

"She is not a fling." He snapped. "Weather father knows or not is none of his concern let alone yours. Leave, Azula. Before I make you."

Azula laughed mechanically, shaking her head and cocking her hip. "You're starting to become less dull recently. I was beginning to think Mai had sucked the life out of you. Let's see how this all plays in the end, eh, big brother?"

Zuko eyed his sister as she waved goodbye and exited his office.

He slumped back in his desk chair, running his hands over his face. Leave it up to his family to complicate things. Now that his…somewhat…relationship with Katara was exposed, he had no choice but to face his father.

But not to apologize for breaking up with Mai. Oh, no. That was a sinking ship from the moment he first asked her to be his girlfriend nine years ago. No, he wasn't going to allow Ozai to play his personal life like a chess piece. He does that enough with his professional.

Zuko's moments with Katara were the best he's had in all his twenty-five years. Its not something he's willing to dismiss for the sake of everyone else's satisfaction. He had spent almost his whole life appeasing his father, it was high time he would allow himself something selfish.


She loved his handsome smile. The way it crooked when he was trying to be sly. The way it stretched into a grin when he relaxed next to her. But most of all, Katara loved when he would glance at her, thinking she wouldn't notice, and his lips would turn as he eyed her affectionately.

After picking her up from her apartment, they had stopped into a local grocery store. Zuko stated he needed some items for the dinner he would be making her that night and Katara couldn't wait to see what he had in store. The only man she ever knew who cooked was her Dad.

Zuko was dressed more casually. He wore a white V-neck tee and leather jacket with black jeans and ankle length boots.

Katara wore a long sleeve, powder blue shirt that exposed a single shoulder along with a pair shorts and gladiator sandals. She couldn't help but stare at Zuko and preferred his casual attire over his professional wear.

Once arriving at their destination, Zuko kindly opened the passenger door for her, holding her tight around the shoulder as they walked to the entrance when a gust of cold wind made her shiver. The nights in Caldera were known for being chilly.

They wondered around the store with little urgency. Katara suggested they hit every sample stand in the facility. Zuko was quite amused by her enthusiastic nature. She urged him to try every single sample, a playful laugh releasing from her plump lips. She was undeniably beautiful. Her personality was infectious, and her sweet laughter made him want to take in everything she had and accept it as his own.

Katara on the other hand, noticed the way he made every effort to touch her. He would breath close to her ear, slide his hand down her back and stand close enough to emit his heat and she welcomed his advances by responding in kind. He would crumble under her counter and it was delicious.

She was stunned once they arrived at his residence. The interior was more extravagant than outside of the building. The bell man greeted them happily, bowing his head with a smile when Zuko escorted her through the lobby to the elevator with a brown paper bag in his arm.

They were silent in the elevator for a while. Katara unexpectantly became shy, a blush forming on her cheeks. She had almost forgotten what Zuko's occupation was and now it felt like the first time they met.

The feeling dispelled when he skimmed the back of his free hand against hers, caressing his knuckles over it before coming around to lace his fingers with hers. She looked down at his hand, they were stronger and larger than hers. It gave her a sense of security. The need to pull him closer caused her to tug his hand.

He complied, meeting her as they met chest to chest and she scanned his face, taking in the way it softened as he gazed at her.

Zuko watched as her lashes fluttered while she studied his face. A tingle settled in his lower stomach and he squeezed her hand.

"Zuko." She breathed, her smooth voice echoed in his ears.

"Yes?"

"The elevator stopped."

Katara chuckled, seeing his eyes dart around the small space. He released her hand to enter in a code on the keypad by the doors. They opened, revealing Zuko's luxurious apartment. It was absolutely jaw dropping. Why would he have such a large place?

"Are you serious?" She mumbled.

"It's not that bad." Zuko grinned, bumping his arm with hers.

Katara followed him into the kitchen where he began to prep for dinner. He had amazingly diced the onions, carrots and broccoli before stirring it into a frying pan with the shrimp he was cooking, noodles boiling in a large pot next to it. Katara sat on his island counter, watching him as he moved around the kitchen like a professional. Zuko had offered her tea or wine while she waited, accepting tea instead.

They finished their meal, Katara complimenting him immensely when she had tasted the meal he set for them at the small kitchen table.

"So, what made you want a place like this?" Katara asked as he gathered their plates. "I hope you're not trying to compensate for something."

Zuko stopped at the sink once he set the plates inside and turned to her with a lopsided grin, "We both know that's not true." The color of her face turning a beet red clarified that she, indeed, knew better. "I essentially bought this place thinking me and Mai would build a life here together."

Katara cocked her head, a gesture meant to avoid from cringing at the sound of his ex-girlfriend's name. "Oh, I see…So, you guys lived together?" she guessed.

Zuko nodded hesitantly. He knew the situation probably seemed odd to Katara. He wouldn't blame her if she called it quits between them. He was jumping from one woman to another not long after separating from Mai. It had been almost four months but after being together nine years, it wasn't enough time to recover before seeing someone else.

"I, uh, hope that you don't think that I'm the kind of guy that would use you as a rebound. Or anyone for that matter." He made a move to walk closer to her when she stood up and a part of him was worried that she might leave. "What we have…I don't know, I just want you. So, so much. It's almost to the point it's scaring the hell out of me." He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head and clearing his throat. "I just want you to know that, I care about you. From the little time we've spent together, I couldn't help but adore you. If there was any way I could keep you around without making you feel uncomfortable…." He trailed off.

"Girlfriend."

Zuko's brow arched, unclear if he heard her correctly. "Pardon?"

Katara pursed her lips, looking down at her feet, twisting a lock of her hair with her index finger. "What you described-the part about keeping me around-Girlfriend. That's what that would make me."

It was his turn to blush, the flutter in his stomach and the rapid pace of his heartbeat made him feel like he was floating on air.

"If that's what you meant." She mumbled. "But don't think the only way I would choose to stick around at this moment is if you make me your girlfriend right here and now. You've just gotten out of a serious relationship, I have no intentions of holding you down, that's something you yourself would have to grow from. I like you, Zuko. I'm willing to break down my barriers in an attempt to see where this," she pointed between the both of them, "will go."

She liked him? She liked him!

Zuko nodded, more eagerly than he anticipated. He was touched. This was the best news he's received...ever! "I-I appreciate your patience. I can't tell you how much it means to me to hear your willingness to see this through." He crossed the room, cupping her chin and tilting it upwards to look into her cerulean eyes. They were so blue, so enticing, that he was drawn into capture her lips.

Katara took a deep inhale through her nose before returning the kiss. It wasn't heated or possessive like the first encounter nor was it small and brush like the last time. No. It was deep. Warm. Exchanged with the feelings she bore inside for him since their first meeting. How crazy it was to think for a second that a man she met off the streets stirred intense emotions.

Their relationship was unnatural by many standards but why give up something powerful for the sake of others' viewpoints on how a healthy relationship should start? Hell, Gran Gran had married her grandfather, the love of her life, two weeks after meeting him. There were no manuals, no specifically right way to be together. All they can do is accept they were here now, and now is what matter most in that moment.

They broke the kiss, Katara leaning up to press her lips against his scarred cheek and he hissed. "What does your bedroom look like?" she asked.

Zuko's eyes widened, almost choking on his own spit. "Uh, y-you want to see my room?" He cleared his throat, rubbing his chest as they parted.

"Mm-hmm." She nodded once, smirking. Katara turned her back to him, pulling his hand and leading him to where she assumed his bedroom might be. She stopped once they entered the living room, her eyes wondered up a set of spiral stairs, possibly the biggest clue to where it might be.

They climbed the stairs, Katara using the railing to steady herself while she kept hold of Zuko's hand. His eyes unconsciously averted to her bottom before snapping them away in embarrassment. She had surprisingly selected the door to his room out of the other two bedrooms, the bathroom and the linen closet.

"Are you kidding me? Is that your bed?" She laughed giddily.

"Yeah. Why?"

"It's freaking huge!" Katara announced. It was bigger than any king size bed she'd seen. She quickly removed her sandals, rushing over to climb into his bed and standing up as she bounced slightly on it. Zuko's face contorted in both confusion and curiosity. "Have you ever jumped on this thing?"

Zuko rolled his eyes. "Nope. Then again, I am twenty-five." He retorted sarcasticly.

Katara waved him over. "Come here. It'll be fun, I promise."

He wasn't sure if he could believe that but Zuko ended up taking off his boots, climbing up on the bed to stand next to Katara. "Now what?"

"Jump." She stated.

"Huh? Ack!" Zuko caught his footing after Katara jumped on the bed, making him lose his balance.

"Jump, weirdo." She laughed out loud.

Zuko opened his mouth to deflect her calling him a weirdo but shut it again when she grabbed his waist with both hands and forced him to join her. His stomach turned inside out at the sensation of coming down from their jump and the cringe on his face made Katara lose it.

"I take it you never did this as a child."

"Please," he grunted, almost dizzy from their play, "my father would have none of this, it'd be my ass if he ever caught me or my sister acting out."

Katara halted, squeezing Zuko's biceps. "That's awful! What parent wouldn't let their children be free to have fun and express themselves?"

Zuko pursed his lips, shaking his head. "A parent who views his children more like assets than people."

So what Toph stated about his family…

Zuko caught the look on her face. He mentally panicked. Those words weren't meant to ruin their evening.

Instead of continuing, Zuko wrapped his arms around her waist, Katara gasping in surprise and he lifted her up, releasing his own weight so they both fell backwards on the bed.

"Zuko!" she shrieked, hands clinging to his shoulders.

He laughed uncontrollably at her expression. He never knew she could make such a face.

Katara frowned, not the least bit humored by his action. "You could've warned me!"

Zuko's laughter slowly died, a heave settling as he wiped a tear from his eye. "I'm sorry, I thought we were still in the middle of your game. Was that not to your liking?" He snorted.

She grinned at his change of behavior. Katara had never heard Zuko laugh and she loved it. She would have to remember to cox more of it out of him in the future. She rolled on top of him and straddled his hips, running her hands over his strong chest and his dying laughter turned into deep, rolling moans.

He grasped her wrist, Katara's eyes looking up towards his face. His eyes had turned dark and lidded, his face serious and his chest moving up and down. "That is not necessary, Katara." He rasped.

She released her arm from his hold, settling one on his shoulder for balance and slipping the other under his shirt. "It doesn't have to be necessary." Katara purred, taking in the feel of is taut abs. She hummed sensually once she reached his strong pecs, ghosting her fingers between them. "This is a matter of want." She leaned into, pressing her chest into his. "Do you want me, Zuko?"

Her words were torturous, a soft growl came out as a deep moan shaken from his chest at the realization of their predicament. "I don't," she slid her hot tongue over the edge of his lobe, provoking a gasp from his parted lips. "I, ugh, d-don't have a condom." He wasn't trying to imply that he wanted them to screw. He didn't want to rush things but the way she was rubbing against him, breaking him down piece by piece and the thought of succumbing to her advances made him want to break down and worship ever part of her body.

But he really didn't have a condom.

Katara sat up, wiggling her bottom on his lap and watched his face contort as his erection grew beneath his jeans. "There are alternatives," her hand moved from his chest to cup his clothed erection, feeling it grow harder in her palm, "I can think of a few."

Her words were so bold, Katara could hardly believe they came from her own mouth. This was the most turned on she's ever been. Heat pooled in lower abdomen as well as anxiousness. Logic would normally tell her to stop and take things slow, but their relationship already wasn't normal, nor did she want it to be. This was what she wanted and by La, she was going to take it.

Zuko instinctively lifted his hips, grinding in her hand. This was not how he planned their evening to turn out. He hoped that Katara wouldn't regret this later. She was literally the second woman to ever touch him like this and he hadn't a clue if this would affect them negatively in this stage of their relationship.

"Katara, mmm, I don-" She interrupted his train of thought when she stood above him, feet planted on either side of him and took off her shorts one leg at a time and carelessly tossed them over the side of the bed.

Zuko gulped, his eyes roaming over her smooth, toned legs and stopping to trace the lines of her navy-blue lace underwear, embroidered by see through designs and finally landing on the soft curls hidden behind them.

At this point, he prayed he had enough stamina to make it through her ministrations because he didn't think he was going to last long.

When Katara knelt, her mind whirled as she was flipped to her side, Zuko suddenly pressed against her back and his arm wrapped around her chest.

"You first." He husked, caressing her left breast and slipping the other hand into the front of her panties.

The pad of his middle finger brushed her clit and she cried out. Jolts spasmed through her body as he slowly turned circles, using just the right amount of pressure to make her core quiver yet not strong enough to make her come too soon. Any more than that, she knew would send her over the edge.

Zuko gently rubbed the nub between his fingers, making Katara mewl and arch her back. Her bottom pressing against his hardened member and he muttered a curse under his breath, fumbling his rhythm. That seemed to intensify her arousal because he could smell it and it was intoxicating. So much that Zuko leaned his forehead into her shoulder to concentrate from his haze.

"Spirits, Katara, you're so wet." He whispered, moving to part her folds before inserting a single digit inside her dripping wet center. She bucked into his palm, urging him to continue when he stopped to take a shaky exhale. Her inner walls pulsed when he slid in a second finger and her low moans turned into words of agreement along with broken whimpers of his name.

Zuko angled his wrist, thrusting in deep enough until he reached her sweet spot, reveling in the feel of her inner walls as they tightened around his fingers and the wanton cries that rung like sweet music to his ears.

"Please…" she begged, placing a hand over the one massaging her breast, she guided the hand to her nub, leaning her head back against the one on her shoulder. "…don't stop…Zu-ko…"

Taking the hint, he continued thrusting his fingers as his other stroked her pearl, radiating tremors up her back. The heat swimming through her stomach pressed down on her core. Katara slammed her eyes shut, blinding white heat forming behind her lids, as her walls contracted around Zuko's fingers and static obscured her hearing. She came harder than she ever had before, the afterglow floating through her body longer than what she considered was long enough. Sweat sheening finely on her forehead and midriff.

Katara turned around once the pulsing subsided. Zuko eyes were glazed over, his golden orbs burned a mesmeric amber and his lust filled gaze sent another seep of wetness between her legs.

Breaking their gaze, she leaned in to dip her tongue into his exposed collar bone, blowing cool air as his body tensed under her touch.

That set him ablaze because he took her lips, prying them open with his tongue and he swallowed her moan. She welcomed him, massaging her slick muscle with his own and he tasted like cinnamon. Hot and sweet. It sent her into a fever of desire.

This was it. This was the kiss she remembered turned her world upside down. Drowned her into a sea of bliss and sent her over the edge multiple nights when she lied awake in bed imagining how that kiss would feel between her legs.

Katara gripped his buttocks, pressing him flush against her, moaning when his erected length touched her thigh.

They parted, a string of saliva between them. "Let me fix that." Katara offered.

Zuko swallowed the lump in his throat. "It's fine, um, y-you probably want to head home."

"No." Katara kissed him again. "I want to touch you."

Before he knew it, she had pulled his jean down mid-thigh, stroking his cock still hidden behind his boxers, watching as his jaw clenched.

"I like you, Zuko."

Zuko moaned loudly as she stroked him over and over through his underwear. "I like you too, Katara." He panted. "Spirits, I-I am not saying that because you're-fuck!"

Katara already had his boxers off, enclosing her mouth over his cock and circling her tongue around it before sliding the tip of it over his slit. His knees shook, lost in bliss as he was engulfed in wet heat. One hand rubbed the base as the other caressed the hardness of his abs. Zuko couldn't help but close is eyes as he reveled in rippling pleasure.

"Look at me, Zuko." She cooed after popping his length from her mouth. She crawled to the left of him, lying on her side, feet rested on his pillows and reached for his cock again. "You don't have to close your eyes."

He didn't know what could possibly benefit from him watching her but then seeing his member disappear between her lips made his mouth open agape. Zuko's hand reached over to caress her cheek, lacing his fingers in her hair and her blues eyes never broke contact with his gold.

It was the sexiest thing Zuko had ever seen. To watch the girl he couldn't deny he was developing feelings for take him in her mouth and encourage him to watch as she made him come with that skill alone was the single, most erotic gesture he had ever witnessed.

Katara reached down to rub her clit in circles as Zuko watched her. His brows knitted, sweat beading down his forehead as he caressed her hair.

His breathing sharpened, fingers gripping the locks of her hair when the speed of her strokes increased, and puffs of hot air released from his mouth. She pulled back, allowing her hand to do the rest of the work as her tongue flicked his tip.

"Shit….Katara-I'm going to come…" He warned, trying to get her to remove her mouth.

She refused to comply to his warning, choosing to keep her mouth where it was and stroking him faster while thrusting her fingers rapidly into her center.

Zuko couldn't contort her protest because he just now noticed her legs parted and her fingers sunk into her sex and that shattered his resolve, sending spurts of his orgasm into her mouth. He arched his back, craning his neck back, his mouth forming an 'O' as she moaned loudly around him after pushing herself over the edge and sending vibrations through his cock.

"Kat…" he hissed between clenched teeth when she removed her mouth and swallowed his essence. Zuko had never experienced such a strong arousal. A delicious sensation settled in his stomach.

Once she was by his side, face to face, he kissed her on the forehead, her cheeks, her neck and her jaw before smashing one on her lips. "That was…" he couldn't even finish the sentence as he held her flush against him.

Katara smiled, her vision going blurry. She received a lazy smile from Zuko's lips, and that was the last thing she remembered before sleep took her.