Disclaimer: I don't own The Avatar: The Last Airbender

Chapter 9

She Knows!


The clock read 6:00 a.m. as Zuko pulled himself up off the lounge chair. His head was pounding out of control and everything else was aching. Out of only a few hangovers this was defiantly the worst of them all.

He wandered around Ember's room quietly to see if she was awaked. Of course she wasn't up. Although Ember was a fellow firebender, she still didn't wake until noon or something around that time. No one knows why. She'd been like that ever since Zuko knew her.

Zuko hurriedly walked out the room concerned that Katara might find out. He literally flew down the corridors to his room, which he shared with his wife. It only took him a minute to get there; if he had walked it would have taken 6. He opened the large doors as gently as possible to a snoring Katara. He was careful of making noises because even though she was a heavy sleeper he couldn't afford to take any chances. If she had woken up to him coming in fully dressed at this time of morning he would surely be killed.

While rushing into the room he fumbled with his fire nation robes. Gods it's hard to take of clothes while walking. Zuko hissed to himself. Suddenly he heard a loud sigh coming from the direction of which Katara slept. Zuko flashed his head towards her with worry pouring out of eyes. That worry soon faded away when he realized it was just she in her sleep. Thank the spirits. He praised silently.

Zuko gathered his robes recently thrown on the floor and dropped them in a basket full of dirty robes, being the neat freak that he was and all. Soon after that he slipped into the bed next to Katara and held her close to his heart. His most favorite part of his life…was being close to her.

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This time, instead of eating at the palace, Zuko and Katara went out to eat at the Golden Red Dragon about 12 miles away. Katara was especially excited. Zuko had been so busy lately and didn't have much time for her.

They sat at the far back of the restaurant. It was a very private room with ribbons of gold and red all around the walls just like the front. Little red and gold dragons disappeared and then reappeared on the chandeliers. It was such a marvelous setting. In the middle of the room was a short-legged table set for two with the royal ensignia on the pillows next to it.

Katara and Zuko sat down and then began to read the menu. Katara had never been there before and noticed the price ranges were quite high. It didn't matter because money was no object but why so much. " Hopefully the food is good from the looks of these prices." She said quietly, looking up at Zuko only to get a "Umm…hum" in response.

Katara just shook the anger she developed off and began to scan the menu for something that sounded familiar. She'd grown accustomed to fire nation foods. At first she wouldn't have touched it. She remembered when her and Zuko just got engaged. They were in the banquet hall and she refused to eat anything. Zuko begged her to try it, but Katara just kept on refusing. It wasn't until Zuko playfully shoved a fire-flake into her mouth, that she ever tasted anything like it. As soon as she tasted the spicy flavors and absorbed in all its flavors of goody-ness, she fell in love with it.

Katara couldn't recall anything on the menu and asked Zuko for an opinion. As usual, Zuko grunted and ignored her. "ZUKO!" she hissed.

"WHAT!" He yelled obviously annoyed.

Katara stared at him in silence. Zuko was really pissing her off. "Why are you yelling at me?" She said in a comfortable tone.

"I'm thinking, and you're making me loose my train of thought" He replied, darting his eyes and pointing at her.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked, suddenly curious of his response.

"Things that don't concern you!" he replied sternly.

Katara clutched her fist under the table, while forging a smile. "Things…Huh?" She asked with arched brow.

"Yes…Things." Zuko sounded annoyed, picking up a glass of red wine and sipping on it slowly.

"As in…um…I don't know…things like …sneaking in, in the morning like I wouldn't notice kinds of things?" She looked at him with a strait face. This caused Zuko to choke on his wine in shock. "Wh-wha-what?" Zuko asked, still coughing on the water stuck in his throat.

" You heard me Zuko…and yes, I know about it. Why are you so surprised anyway? Do you think I'm stupid or something? Did you think that I wouldn't notice you not coming to bed at all? …If you did, then you thought wrong. What were you doing anyway?" Katara spoke while picking up her glass of water.

Zuko stared blankly at Katara dumb founded. How did she know? He could have sworn that she was asleep when he got there, and why didn't she let it be known that she knew he wasn't there when he had first walked in earlier that morning. You'd think that she would have killed me by now. But no…Katara was sitting across from him calmly asking him what he was doing. Was this really his Katara?

Zuko had a get-out-of-jail free card and didn't even know how to play. All he knew was that he had to think of something quick. "Ah…"He said pretending like he was clearing his throat. " Some of the guards had a little party in the basement and I got drunk of the sage. I guess I lost track of time." He blurted out quickly.

Katara stared at him for a second and then dropped her head down to her menu. "You don't drink sage." She said in a sweet know-it-all voice before calling for the waiter.

Zuko couldn't believe his ears. Everything he had said backfired on him. He was sure he would get off easily. If Katara knew he was lying then why would she just stand there and take it. Is this really Katara?

What the hell is going in her mind? He wondered to himself.

Katara didn't say another word. She had already decided to order the Fire Flame Leechy Leaf Special with a side order of spices. She watched Zuko order a Flaming Roast Rabbiroo. The wait was as short as ever and the food was there in a hurry. Katara and Zuko remained silent for the rest of their meal and left soon after they finished.

When they got back, Katara hurried and took off her robes in relief. Without so much as a kiss on Zuko cheek she went to bed. That'll show him.

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As Zuko lay in the bed he stared at Katara's back. As soon as they got home Katara took off running for the stairs. When he came in she was snoring lightly. Zuko knew she was pretending and ignored her. He began to disrobe and slid into his golden silk sheets. As soon as he did that Katara turned her back to be facing him. Zuko narrowed his eyes at this and turned so his back was facing her back. No goodnight?


A/N: Whaaaaat...only one review for chapter eight? Did it suck that bad? If not, can you guy please review. Reviews make me happy and motivates me to write more.

Thanks A.G. WHOAH for reviewing chapter 8.

Dont worry everybody. Im not mad...I just want reviews.