I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender, or any of the names or characters of the show. I merely control them for my own twisted pleasure from this point in the story on.

Part 9

Zuko knocked before opening the door but didn't wait for permission to enter before walking in. He noticed a long time ago that these rooms were different than the others in the palace, and he just figured out why. The color scheme was different for there were only oranges and yellows in use; each color was lighter in this room.

He hoped Katara felt a little more at ease here without the major reds of the Fire Nation glaring at her night and day. He only stopped to think about it for a split second before continuing on.

The small apartment had three major rooms: the bedroom, which was directly to the right of the entrance, the main living room, which was where he was now, and the back sitting room, which was directly ahead, consisting of numerous sitting arrangements and a back terrace leading into a personal garden.

He turned to head into the bedroom when Katara appeared at its door. She peered out slightly as if she had been expecting him to return in short order.

"Zuko?" she questioned and took a step into the doorway.

"I wanted to apologize," he said quickly before she could ask him the question. "I had no right to yell at you like I did." He couldn't help but bow slightly towards her and looked up at her to see her reaction. The look on her face surprised him, however, for there was no anger or satisfaction in her eyes.

"I should have taken the guards Hanae offered me; I was being stupid about it," she said and took a step toward him, "you said so yourself."

Suddenly very uncomfortable, he clenched a hand tightly at his side. "I didn't mean that," he said guiltily.

"Yes, you did." She walked up to him. "Zuko, I'm sorry I scared you but," she paused and put a hand on his arm gently, "I've always been able to take care of myself and I thought, 'why would this time be nay different?'"

"But it was, wasn't it?" he asked forcefully and put his hand on her shoulders. She looked away. "Katara, I'm as much to blame. I didn't even think about the possibility of you being targeted. I was in such a haze of-" He stopped, trying to find the right word.

"Love?" Katara offered quietly, and he took a deep breath before exhaling slowly.

"Of delight in being able to call you my wife," he said and ran a finger down her arm lightly, "I didn't think of the consequences of that title."

"I did," she said, and Zuko silently wondered how his uncle knew so much about her already. "I knew the moment you asked me to marry you that there would be people and threats that I would have to deal with. I just, forgot for a few days."

"That's what Uncle said," Zuko replied quietly and Katara smiled.

"Well, your uncle was right." She reached up and put a hand on his face before drawing him closer. She kissed him lightly on the lips before releasing him and turning back toward her room.

Zuko turned to look back at the door out of the apartment before making a decision. "The Avatar and I are leaving tomorrow morning at first light," he said. He wanted to get this thing with her father over as quickly as possible.

"I'm so happy to see you two getting along," Katara said from within her room, her voice full of relief. "You've always been kind of unsure around each other."

Zuko nodded to himself, wondering how in the world he'd be able to stand spending that much time with the teenage airbender without killing him.

"I only need a few more minutes to get ready for dinner," Katara called, "so, wait for me okay?"

"Of course I'll wait."

But he didn't wait. He followed her into the room, and watched her. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to show her how much he cared in a physical way. He loved the way that she moved, so purposefully and slow; as if she had all the time in the world.

He came up behind her as she shifted through clothing in her wardrobe. He noted that she must have unpacked the moment she got into her room; it was a sure sign that she planned on staying. He didn't know why, but it made him feel so much better to know that.

As she reached inside for something, he caught her hand and she looked over at him in question. Her looked turned to one of amused knowledge when she obviously recognized the look in his eyes.

"Zuko," she said as he drew her away from the wardrobe and into his arms, "what about dinner?"

"I'm not hungry," he said and kissed her palm softly, "and if you are, I'll have someone bring it up later." He kissed her mouth and felt need filled him to the brink when she gave way to his lips. Right now, all he needed was to make sure she was here.

"Why do I feel like I'm going to go hungry?" she asked, amused. He shrugged with a smile and scooped her up into his arms.

She woke the next morning starving and cold. Suddenly aware that the bed beside her was empty, Katara looked around the room for any sign of her firebender lover and found nothing.

She sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes before shifting her legs to put them on the floor. Warm feet hit freezing floor, and she suddenly decided not to get out of bed just yet.

"Lady Katara?" came a small, unfamiliar voice from the rooms beyond, and the waterbender narrowed her eyes. Unconsciously pulling the covers up to cover her body, Katara didn't answer.

Soon a young girl small enough to fit the voice wondered into her bedroom slowly, her black hair fell to her shoulders and her amber eyes were curious. She gave the room a small look around before focusing on Katara in bed.

"M'lady!" the girl said looking slightly panicked. "I'm so sorry; I didn't realize you'd still be in bed."

Not knowing what to think, Katara just blew a strain of her hair out of her face and took a deep breath. "I had a long night," she mumbled. "Do you know where Lord Zuko is?"

"Fire Lord Zuko has already left with the Avatar, my lady," the girl said offhandedly.

The statement had Katara jumping out of bed, pulling all sorts of blankets with her. "What?!" Katara rushed to the window, snatching open the drapes and looking out into the distance. Sure enough, it was well past daybreak and she felt something inside of her break slightly. Zuko hadn't even said goodbye…

"M'lady?" the small girl questioned and Katara suddenly didn't want any company.

"What is it?" the waterbender asked sadly, letting the drapes fall gently back into place and turned to look at the girl.

"Lord Zuko had breakfast sent up for you. It is in the living room," she sounded concerned but didn't press.

"That's fine." Katara said, not feeling very well anymore. "Leave it, thank you."

The small girl bowed and left the room.

After waiting for the sound of the door closing, Katara wondered into the front room, blankets and all. She smelled food and found that she was still hungry, despite feeling like her heart had been torn out.

Why didn't he say goodbye? He'd spent the night; all he had had to do was shake her awake and whisper goodbye.

She found the serving cart very quickly. On it was a few covered plates and a pitcher of milk. There was also flower arrangement that was pretty to look at, and she smiled because the flowers were blue and reminded her of home.

She shook her head. No, the Fire Nation was her home now, she corrected her self. The followers reminded her of the village back in the South Pole.

Sighing sadly, she looked around for someplace comfortable to sit and ended up going into the back sitting room, pulling the cart behind her.

She settled down on a big comfy chair in the side of the room facing the terrace and pulled the serving cart toward hers. Ruffling blankets around her, she opened the first plate and stared down at the wonderful smelling pastries that shined up at her in the sun. Famished, she picked one out of the many and dug in.

She ate until she was stuffed full of the wonderful morning food that Fire Nation had to offer and settled back against the chair.

Even with a full belly, disappointment crept into her chest. She reached out for the flowers unconsciously to smell them and something fell into her lap. Surprised, she looked down at a small piece of parchment in her lap and immediately felt like an idiot. Of course Zuko hadn't left without saying good bye; he'd most likely tried to wake her and failed.

Angry for letting her ridiculous notions ruin a perfectly good breakfast, Katara unfolded the note and read it over.

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M'lady,

I know you're very angry with me right now, but in my defense, I did try to wake you. I hope this breakfast and all that follow will help me win back your favor.

I can still see your face and I miss you so much already.

My uncle has stayed behind to help show you around the palace. You are welcome to visit my private rooms, soon to be our private rooms, if you wish to look around.

I shall see you in a fortnight, and you must know how much I love you.

-Zuko.

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Katara's smile didn't seem big enough to convey her pleasure, so she got up and gave into the very girlish want to spin around the room. She laughed at herself and picked up the blankets she'd let fall to the floor before heading back into the bedroom to dress for the day.

He hated to fly.

Oh, how he hated to fly.

The monstrous beast didn't like him very much either, Zuko noted as the clouds around them shifted like milk. Either that or the airbender was flying sideways on purpose.

Hanae stood, yes stood, beside him and looked down at him though foggy glasses.

"Is something the matter, Fire lord?" she asked, amusement filling her voice. She took off her glasses and wiped them on the underside of her shirt.

"I'm fine, Hanae," the Fire Lord said through clenched teeth. "Why do you ask?"

"The knuckles on the hand you're using as an anchor, are white my lord."

He glared up at her and she placed her glasses back on her face, an amused smile on her lips. "I don't like heights Hanae, you know that."

"And why you don't is still a mystery to me," she walked over to the back of the saddle and sat on the hump that protruded from the back, crossing her legs and looking over at him. "You've been on the bridge of the Red Rain constantly, and it's quite high."

Zuko sighed angrily, trying not to look anywhere but at her face. "It's also quite different. If I fall from here, I won't merely have a few broken bones."

"Oh," Hanae said with an air of one who would know, pushing her glasses up her nose, "I doubt very highly that the Avatar would let you fall to your death."

"I don't," Zuko snapped.

Hanae's laughter was not welcome, and either was the result. The Avatar's head appeared over the rim of the saddle and he looked from one firebender to the other.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Zuko snapped, not wanting to give the teenager any unwelcome ideas, like dumping him out of the saddle just to prove he wouldn't let the Fire Lord fall to his death. He turned away and then realized that if the airbender was here, no one was steering the beast.

"Shouldn't you be driving or something?" Zuko asked heatedly.

The airbender looked at Zuko like he was stupid. "Appa knows where we're going."

"I still think it best if you were steering it."

"Appa is not an 'it'. He's a he."

"I still think it best if you were steering it."

The Avatar narrowed his eyes and jumped over the saddle to where he was sitting opposite Zuko. Anger flooded his vision and Zuko stood, yelling, "What did I say!?"

"I don't feel like following your orders right now!" the airbender yelled back, standing as well. "You may be the Fire Lord, but you're not my king."

"Why you little-"

"Lord Zuko!" Hanae said loudly, pulling on the back of his shirt and knocking him off his already teetering balance. He fell back on his butt in the saddle and Hanae turned to the Avatar. "You are both acting like children."

"I am not a child," Zuko said immediately.

"Prove it," Hanae said icily.

Zuko stared up at her and huffed silently. This was going to be a long two weeks, he could feel it already.

This is where my author's notes go. Enjoy!

So, this chapter is proof that I have absolutely no time management skills. It's not nearly as long as I'd like it to be, but next Monday it should be about ten pages, maybe.

Either that or I'm gonna post a Canon Zutara one shot in the celebration of Christmas. Yeah… most likely.

Okay so, look at my profile when you wake up on Christmas day if you have the time and check it out.

Good news: I might be getting a better job working in an office. Yes, an office. As in, in front of a computer all day -delighted squeal-.

So long shoe department of Mervyns! Hello working on my fic whenever I have a free minute!