Author's Note: Woah! Reviews reviews and more reviews! Thank you so much guys, I love hearing your input! And since you enjoyed the Avatar quotes, I'll keep putting them in the chapters. Just a few notes to some readers:

dattebayo4321 – Yes, that quote was from the Southern Raiders :D One of my favorite episodes.

MickieHardyGirl – Thank you for your suggestions! I think you'll be happy to see that I ran with one of them :D

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Katara: You've been hallucinating on cactus juice all day, and then you just lick something you find stuck to the wall of a cave?

Sokka: I have a natural curiosity.

Chapter 9

Katara POV

"I'll be right back," she said with a smile. "I'm just going to wash up before dinner. Doka, why don't you give them a tour of the grounds while I'm upstairs?"

Sokka mumbled something unintelligent under his breath and then motioned for Baeli and her father to follow him outside. Aang tagged along behind.

Well, this couldn't possibly get any more awkward, Katara thought as she made her way up the stairs. Poor Zuko, he's going to have to miss out on dinner. Hmph. I wish there were a way to keep Toph up here with him, too. She just can't behave herself.

"So…" Katara jumped at the sound of a voice behind her. "Who's the lucky father?"

She whirled around and saw Zuko staring at her. She let her eyes roam over him for a few moments before answering. He seemed… tense. "You're jealous…of an imaginary baby? You're kidding me, right?"

"I never said I was jealous," he replied.

"It was implied."

"I disagree."

Katara raised her eyebrows, "Uh-huh. Whatever you say, Prince Zuko."

He grunted. "So, you're going to their house for dinner?"

She shook her head. "Change of plans. They're going to come back here for dinner later on tonight."

"And I'm supposed to just hide upstairs?" There was a hint of irritation in his voice.

"That would make things easiest, yes." Katara looked up at him. She felt her chest tighten at the expression on his face. "I'm sorry, Zuko… It's just, your scar, it makes hiding your identity difficult. They're fire-nation… and they own a house on the Island where your family used to vacation… there's little to no chance that they wouldn't immediately know who you are."

Zuko looked at the floor. "I understand, Katara. I'll just be in my room."

Katara watched him turn. He only made it a few steps before she called out, "Zuko, wait-"

He turned, looking hopeful. "Yeah?"

"I was just wondering… if you wanted to help me with dinner?"

His smile faded. "You mean the dinner that I won't be eating?" His voice turned bitter. "I'm all set, thanks. Like I said, I'll be in my room."

~Later that Evening~

"Great. They're back already."

"Sokka, stop it." Katara said, frustrated. "It's been five hours. They're here at the exact time that we told them to be here."

"Never would have been too soon," he responded.

Katara rolled her eyes. "Just go answer the door. And tell everyone else to get in here and sit at the table. Dinner's just about ready."

Suki POV

"Bye, now! Thanks for coming!" She said.

"It was nice meeting you!" Katara added.

"Yes, we'll be in touch!" Aang said with a smile.

Katara shut the door.

"Well, that was the most awkward dinner I've ever experienced." Said Sokka.

"You betchya," agreed Toph.

"Definitely uncomfortable," Suki added.

She felt Sokka slip his arm around her, "I'm going to go take off this itchy beard, then wanna come for a walk with me?"

She smiled. "Of course, Sokka."

Toph grunted. "Can you guys at least wait until we leave the room before you get all lovey-dovey."

Suki felt her cheeks burning. "We weren't even-"

Toph interrupted her. "Yeah, yeah. Not out loud you weren't, but you forget that I can feel your heartbeats. Blech." She turned towards Katara, "I'm going to bed."

Katara nodded. "I'm going to go see how Zuko's doing."

"Wait! Before everyone takes off, I just wanted to say thank you. For being so great tonight. And bailing me out like that."

Suki smiled, "It was no problem, Aang."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Said Sokka.

"You just better work your butt off during training tomorrow. You still have a Fire Lord to defeat, and we're running out of time."

Aang frowned and left the room.

Poor kid, thought Suki. He bears the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Zuko POV

There was a knock on his door. He didn't bother getting up.

"Who is it?" he called.

"It's me…"

Zuko felt himself relax. Tara… he thought.

"Come in."

Katara closed the door behind her, and leaned up against it.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," he replied.

"Zuko," she sighed. "I'm so sorry. I-"

It was his turn to sigh. "Katara, don't. I'm the one who should be sorry. I understand why you had to keep me up here, and I understand that it was against your own will. You were just trying to protect everyone. It's okay, really."

Katara smiled at him. He felt his chest tighten. "Tara..." he said "Come sit with me."

She blushed. But after a few moments, she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed next to him.

"Tara," he whispered again.

She leaned in closer to him. "Mmm?"

"I just want you to know… how happy I am to have you in my life. You make me… better. I'm happier, I don't get as angry, I just-"

"I know," she whispered.

The next thing he knew, they were kissing. Her fingers were tangled in his hair, her body pressed against his. His arms were wrapped around her, his hands exploring her body. He felt her moving closer to him, and just when he thought she was about to climb onto his lap, the door opened.

"Hey, Katara are you still i-AH. WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?"

Katara and Zuko broke apart, gasping, both exhilarated and horrified at the same time.

Oh, Agni, Zuko thought. Of all the people that could of walked in…it had to be Sokka?

"Hey Sokka…" began Katara.

"Don't 'hey Sokka' me!" he yelled. "You better explain what you were doing in here, on his bed, like that…and YOU" he shouted at Zuko. The vein in his forehead was pulsing. "You better explain what your hands were doing roaming all over my baby sister!"

Katara sighed. "Sokka… we can explain everything. Just, you better sit down."

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Guru: I know I am not the person you expected ...and I did not expect to be licked by a giant tongue just now.