AN: So, a longer chapter! Sorry for the wait again but I completely changed my original idea because I hated it. I had this written a couple of days ago but I was in France, I think that inspired me a little since I couldn't stop writing this!

Tell me what you like, don't like, want more on... You know the drill...


I remembered falling, being caught. Voices arguing about how to get me home, then silence as someone picked me up. Strong arms cradled me and I snuggled into the warmth. Then I was cold again, laid out on a giant purring cushion. I shook a bit and almost fell off the cushion while it growled, but when it fell silent I was still. The arms lifted me again and I felt that we were going upwards. A lock clicked open and we pushed through. Soon enough I was on a bed, and warm liquid was being poured gently into my mouth. A bit of the fog from my head cleared and I saw a dark figure above me shift into-

"Zuko?"

"Yes Katara?" His gravelly voice somehow calmed me.

"You carried me home." I was puzzled but it wasn't a question.

"You were collapsing on all of us. I got you the drinks but I didn't think you'd actually drink them." He laughed softly.

"It's dark." I mumbled it quietly to myself but he heard. I saw him flick the light switch but to no avail.

"Hang on a sec." He slipped out of the room, returning with a candelabra.

"Where the hell did you get that?" I spoke as he flicked some fire at the tall candles and placed it on my bedside table.

"I'll leave you to sleep now. Call me in the morning to tell me how you feel." He turned to go but I called out.

"No, I need you here." Crap, where did that come from? "You'd stop your World for me, you're different to any other guy I've met. I know you act tough, but you're not really are you?" I waited for a reply.

"Whatever you say." He raised an eyebrow in annoyance but let it go, probably because I was drunk. "I see that the broth loosened your tongue as well as made you a little more... alive. Was this leading somewhere?"

"Yes, I need to get something off my chest, it's important that I finally tell someone." I guessed I'd sound a little more sincere if I hadn't slurred my words, but you win some...

"All ears."

"I- I killed my mother." I looked into his eyes, searching for a look of horror, but all I saw was patience as I struggled to get my words out. "We got caught in a house fire, a fight had gotten out of hand. She rushed out, I had been following. Then I got stuck at the top of the stairs. She ran back in to get me, but there was too much fire to go back down. My father was outside, he told her to jump, he said he'd catch us. She didn't want to drop me so she used a tiny amount of water left in a bottle and sent me down on that. She couldn't get out after that. If I'd just been a little faster-"

"You couldn't help it, it wasn't your fault. I too lost my mother to the flames. My father's to be exact." His arms encircled me, creating a warm bubble of comfort. "Just thank your lucky stars the rest of your family is fine."

"Thank you, Zuko. That means a lot. I've never felt able to talk about this to someone I love, at least not after the first try." And the bombshell dropped. That was almost a confession of love. Whatever broth Zuko had given me certainly did loosen my tongue, and made sure I remembered it in the morning.


I began to help at the shop again the next day. I couldn't face Zuko. He had been so kind to me, so important, and I ruined it all. Haru brought a small comfort with his distracting chatter.

"So, do you have a permanent job anywhere? If not I could see about getting you one here. It would definitely be nice to have someone as beautiful as you to talk to." He smiled shyly at me. He was sweet, but paled in comparison to Zuko.

"I prefer to drift a little. I can't make work all the time so I pick up odds and ends." I was thankful I didn't have to lie to dissuade the boy from his advances, I knew I'd slip up at some point.

"Well, let me ask you something. I think that you're great. You're kind, funny, not to mention beautiful. Would you like to grab a meal some time or catch a movie?" Hope lit up in his eyes so that I almost wished I didn't have to extinguish it.

"No, I'm sorry, but my heart belongs to another. I would do those things only as your friend, but I don't think it would be enough." I was shocked again at my admission of love. I assumed that before it was only because I was drunk that I thought I loved Zuko. I realised then that my feelings were true, and quietly excused myself to be free of an audience for my tears.


"You've been moping around for days now, are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Toph sighed as I picked at my breakfast.

"Nothing's wrong. I just need to think." I lied again. It was the same lie I had told everyone, including Aang, and they had chosen to believe it. I had been avoiding the guys whenever they were working together, but Aang always seemed to want to hang around. He wasn't quite so annoying any more, but that didn't mean I wanted to talk to him. I assumed someone must have finally said something that sunk in, since we all noticed an effort to improve.

"Look, I know I'm not exactly the go to for a girly chat," Toph paused, "but I'm here for you."

"I appreciate it, Toph. I'll tell you if I work out what exactly I am feeling." I knew what I was feeling, however. I also knew that people would say that I was being stupid, that I couldn't truly be in love at my age, but it was too powerful to just be a crush.

"Suki might be a better option, she could help you work things out." Toph was mumbling as she left me to my troubles.