I have no excuses, so I'm not going to give any.

Un-pause

"There has been an assassination attempt on Fire Lord Zuko!"

Katara could only stare at the man in front of her, desperately trying to comprehend what he had just said. "What?"

"General Iroh writes that Fire Lord Zuko was attacked."

"What!"

"He is alive, but he is injured. General Iroh says that they aren't sure who is behind the attack, but he does have his suspicions."

"What?" Katara tried to force herself out of her shocked state, but the words were still floating through her head. Zuko had been attacked? He was injured? He was…

And just like that, it was as if the past year hadn't happened. She was back in the arena watching as Zuko stepped into the path of the oncoming lightning.

No. Not again.

She turned to Aang, though she didn't know what comfort he could offer. She saw him take a step back and was confused until he said, "Katara, you're crying."

"I am?" she asked in a chocked voice. She lifted her hand to her check and sure enough, there were tears there. "I…"

Without a word Aang grabbed her hand and led her back outside. He didn't even stop to explain to Sokka and Suki; he just brushed right past them.

He led her to the back of the hotel where Appa sat, munching contently on some hay. "Take Appa."

"What? Aang, I don't –"

"Take Appa," Aang repeated. "He'll get you to the Fire Nation the fastest. Go be with Zuko."

And that was how Katara found herself on Appa's back, flying towards the Fire Nation as fast as the sky-bison could go.

To Katara, it felt as though her thoughts were flying through her head at much faster speeds.

I should have asked if there was more information in Iroh's letter! How badly is Zuko hurt? Is it serious? Is that why Iroh sent the message to the hotel? Did he need me to hear about it so I could come heal Zuko? But then why not send the message directly to me? Does Zuko not want me to know? But why? Does he not want me there? Does he not care for me anymore? Is that why his letters have been so professional?

No! Katara forced her thoughts away from that path. Worrying about all of this wouldn't help her. She needed to stay focused. If Zuko did need healing, she needed to be at her peak, not exhausted from over analyzing each of Zuko's letters to her. She needed to stay strong for him.

Healing comes first, she told herself sternly. Everything else can wait until he is better.

Suddenly realizing that Appa was slowing down, Katara peered over the saddle's edge to see the Fire Nation Palace looming before her. She quickly guided Appa towards one of the inner courtyards, and then leapt to the ground as soon as it was safe to do so. Then she was off, racing through the palace to find Zuko.

She flew past servants, guards, and so many people, but she didn't really see any of them. All she saw was the route she knew would take her straight to Zuko's room.

Luckily there weren't any guards posted in front of his doors; Katara didn't know what she would have done to them if they had been there.

She hurled the doors open, sprinted inside, and stopped at the foot of Zuko's bed.

Sitting in the middle of said bed, surrounded by mounds of paperwork, was a slightly bruised and scratched-up Zuko.

"Katara?"

"You're ok," she breathed out.

"Well, other than a broken leg, I guess I am," Zuko said.

"I just…the message was vague," Katara explained. "Or maybe it wasn't; I didn't actually read it. I just heard assassination attempt and…" She glanced down at her hands and found that they were shaking.

Zuko noticed too. He swept aside some papers and held his arms out to her.

Katara didn't hesitate. She climbed in next to him, mindful of the plaster-wrapped leg she could now see. And then Zuko wound his arms around her and he was there, alive and warm and breathing.

"It was the arena all over again," she whispered.

"I'm fine," Zuko assured her. "You should see the other guys."

Katara had to chuckle at that.

"I told you I would never leave you."

Katara shifted slightly so she could look straight into his eyes. What she saw there no longer confused her or frightened her. And she knew exactly what to say. "Un-pause."

Zuko's smile lit up the room in a way that the sun could never manage. "I love you."

"I love you too."

And because it just felt so right, Katara leaned in and kissed him.