A/N: I don't take credit for owning any part of Avatar. Scout's honor. (note: author is not a scout, but kidnapped a real one to swear to her honor.)

A little confession: this was the original storyline to Friends Again. If you go back and read the first chapter (Oasis) you'll see what I'm talking about. That story got WAY off track, until it became something completely different. I think there was a plot bunny in my head that took over my fingers to type that thing. Anyway, I'm not sure this is going to be as long as FA, but then I didn't think that one was going to be as long as it turned out to be. XD

Zuko looked at Mai appraisingly. She looked just as he remembered her. So many things stirred within him he hardly knew where to begin. He reacted, more than consciously responded, "Am I being punished for something?" a bitter note slipped into his tone.

Mai shook her head. "Not punished, reminded. What things stood out to you, seeing it just now?"

"What part of the vision did you want me to pay attention to? Other than your death!" he added snidely. She gave him one of those looks that only someone who truly knows you can give. It's one that says 'get real' and kicks you in the pants at the same time, so he took a minute to really think about what he'd seen.

When he spoke again his voice was quieter, more like normal. "I guess I never thought about how much Katara did for us that day. She was, and is, a good friend."

"Yes, what she did was close to a miracle." Mai smiled slightly.

"A miracle?" he tried to think back over what he'd seen.

"Don't you remember what she said? When I lay in your arms she used her bending to keep me alive and conscious. It was as if she used her own spirit to let me say goodbye."

He stared at her stunned. "I didn't know. I hadn't realized in all this time..." his voice trailed off in wonder of what Katara had done.

"I know. That's why I wanted you to see again, now that the hurt has passed."

He smiled as he pondered that. The hurt really had passed, he'd just held on to it's memory like a shield. It wasn't there, he just thought of it being there so as to protect him.

He shook his head, "Another thing has bothered me since that night. What was it you you were trying to tell me there at the end?"

She frowned and her brows came together, "I tried to tell you not to wait."

"Not to wait for what?"

"To marry." she said softly.

He shook his head again. "I wouldn't have been able to. Besides, who would've had me?" he asked the question half jokingly. Both knew it was not a laughing matter.

Mai studied him knowingly. "There was someone always by your side who loved you. You were just to frightened to do anything about it."

He looked at her surprised, "Who?"

Instead of answering him she turned around to face the small path that led off into the dense wood. At that moment Zuko heard footfalls coming closer between the trees. A woman burst through into the small clearing.

"Katara." Mai said.

~**O**~

'Mai' Katara thought as she skidded to a halt in front of them. She was surprised to see her but there were other emotions that threatened to surface. Jealousy being one of them.

"It's good to see you again, Katara." Mai bowed to the waterbender.

Katara was working on autopilot when she returned the bow. "Likewise."

Mai turned back to Zuko and Katara noticed his appearance had changed again. Now he looked like he did at the time he was crowned. She reached up and felt her braid was gone and she realized that she looked different too.

Mai turned back to Zuko and placed a hand on his scarred cheek. He closed his eyes to savor the feeling. "I have to say goodbye now." she said softly, and his eyes opened to look at her sadly. "You will no longer have those dreams about me. Have a wonderful life Zuko, I never wanted you to pine. I want you to love and be loved. Katara was right to when she told you you deserve all the love in the world." she smiled and removed her hand.

Zuko smiled at her as she turned to Katara. The waterbender was surprised when Mai unexpectedly threw her arms around her. Katara returned the hug despite her shock at the contact. What she'd known of Mai had never led her think the weapon's expert was this affectionate.

"He's all yours." Mai whispered into her ear. She released Katara and looked between her and Zuko. "You have to get going now."

Mai paused to look at Zuko again then walked towards the line of trees. A mist came up, obscuring her from the two travelers views. When it cleared she was gone.

Zuko looked at Katara. Memories of the past were still fresh in his mind, and with her looking like she used to when he joined their group, he was suddenly overcome with emotions he hadn't felt in years. He took her shoulders to turn her to look at him. He noticed her confused expression. "I was given a vision by Mai." he said softly and she nodded her head as if she understood. He wondered if she'd been given her own vision.

He could see she was going to ask a question but her continued. "I saw the night she was killed." He paused and tried to read her expression, but at that moment she was being elusive. He slid his hands down her arms to take her hands in his. "I never realized how much you did for her... for me. There are no words to express my gratitude."

"I wasn't looking for gratitude." she frowned, but was blushing.

"I never believed that you were." he said with a smile. He lifted her hands and kissed the top of her knuckles slowly. She looked just like the day they went to face Azula, frightened but determined.

She trembled and he felt it. His eyes snapped back to hers. "Katara?" he breathed.

She was at a loss. He looked so much like the old Zuko that she loved to hate, but inside her stirred the feelings she had for the man he really was. Her mind was confusing her heart, making her question if it really was true that she'd had feelings for him back then. Maybe the others had been right after all.

"Zuko, there's something I need to tell you. Something I should've told you a long time ago."

"What is it?" he rubbed his thumbs across the soft skin on the back of her hands.

She took a deep breath. "I..."

A grumbling noise next to them interrupted her. They turned and there stood Hei-Bai. Zuko pulled Katara behind him as he faced the large panda.

Katara smiled and rested a hand on the Fire Lord's shoulder. "It's alright, Zuko. He's a friend." She stepped between the two and bowed as she had earlier, to the spirit. "This is Hei-Bai, a forest protector spirit, and also a good friend of Aang." The panda nudged her in the back and she laughed. "Yes, and my friend as well. Hei-Bai, this is Fire Lord Zuko."

Zuko was still a little stunned but followed her lead and bowed to the panda. Hei-Bai rumbled his greeting.

"I think he's going to take us back to Putyuk." she walked over to stand next to the Forest Spirit. She placed her hand on the neck of the furry creature and pulled herself on.

Zuko looked a little skeptical but walked over and hopped on behind her. He had barely wrapped his arms around Katara's waist when the Forest Spirit started running.

****

Katara laughed in the joy of the speed they attained, as the scenery once again whizzed by. In hardly no time at all they were back at the point they'd entered the Spirit World. Putyuk, the Healing Spirit, stood there waiting for their return.

When Hei-Bai came to a stop his two passengers slid off. They bowed to the panda and he was gone again in a flash.

"I see you both found what you needed to find." Putyuk said with a smile.

The travelers nodded, and Zuko realized he hadn't asked Katara what she'd found. Putyuk looked meaningfully at him.

"Speak your desire." she said solemnly.

Zuko glanced at Katara for support. She looked like herself again, their appearances had caught up to the present. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I want to finally be free of this scar." he touched his left cheek.

"Why?" Putyuk made a small movement with her hand and a large ornate mirror appeared at her right.

Though he was surprised to see the mirror, he was taken more aback by the Healer's question. It caught him unprepared. "It's a painful reminder of sins of the past. I cannot undo what I did, I know that. But I would like to be rid of the daily reminder. It's painful for me, almost more than I can bare." his voice shook.

She looked at him tenderly. "You must be positive this is what you want. True change is never easy. It cannot be given or received freely. It must be earned. If you gain a thing simply and without consequence it will mean nothing to you. Though it may be something you desire greatly."

He knelt down humbly. "Please."

Putyuk sighed, "Is this what you really want?" her voice held no condemnation or judgment. She looked down at the Fire Lord kneeling before her.

Zuko looked up into the mirror at his left. "Will...will it remain when I leave here?"

"Yes. If that is what you want."

Zuko became angry. "What do you mean? You keep asking me if this is what I want! Of course this is what I want! This is what I've wanted since..." his voice caught with emotion. "My Father..." his words broke off again.

Katara went to put her hands on his shoulders to comfort him, but Putyuk motioned her not to. "Very well. Stand."

Zuko stood again facing the spirit. She placed her hands on his face, they were cool and he closed his eyes. A blue light radiated from her hands, bathing the whole area. Katara had to shield her eyes as the light became brighter. A hum broke the stillness accompanying the light, then as quickly as it began it faded away.

When the light was gone Zuko blinkingly opened his eyes. "What happened?" He asked the spirit in front of him.

"I've given you what you've come for." her voice faded in and out like a breeze. "Look and see." she pointed to the mirror.

The image was a mirage. It had to have been.

Tears sprang to his eyes to see the man reflected. The face he saw looked familiar, but it had been so long he had almost forgotten. "Is it... is that me?" he took a step closer, barely believing his eyes. "Is it real?" he touched his face.

He was delighted and surprised to feel smooth skin. He was able to open his left eye wide. The tears ran as he laughed in pure delight.

Zuko wasn't sure when Katara had come to stand beside him to look in the mirror. All of a sudden he noticed she was standing there, her mouth agape.

"Oh Zuko!" She turned to face him, her own tears of joy matching his. She lifted her hand then hesitated to touch him, out a sudden feeling of shyness.

He grabbed her hand and brought it to his face. "It's real!" he left his hand over hers. She was one of the very few people he'd let touch his scar. He was so glad she was here to share this moment with him. "How do I look?" he asked with mock pride.

"Beautiful!" The word slipped out before she had a chance to stop it. She blushed briefly. "What I mean is, you look different. Good, but different."

He laughed. She hadn't heard him laugh like that in a very long time – if ever. It was an abandoned, hearty, almost giddy laugh, and she couldn't help but join in.

She retrieved her hand from beneath his. With the tips if her fingers she traced the line of his returned eyebrow, then the edges of the formerly scarred area back into his hairline and around his ear. It sent a little shiver down his spine.

He wrapped a hand around her waist and pulled her closer. She gazed into his eyes before pulling away, shaking her head. She looked at the spirit, painfully aware of her presence.

Zuko also turned to Putyuk, "Thank you so much, Spirit." Both travelers bowed low in respect. When they straitened up she nodded to them with a tired smile.

"Be wary young ones, your journey has not ended. You have trials yet to go through, the first of which is to make your way back to the world of the living."

"You can't help us with that?" Katara asked in surprise.

The spirit smiled at her. "No. My part is done. There is another that is waiting to help you."

"Who?" Zuko asked.

"Katara knows." Putyuk was beginning to fade from their vision.

The Ambassador thought for a moment before the answer came to her. "How do we find her?" she asked the spirit excitedly.

"Go back to the place you saw your vision." With that she was gone.

"Who is it?" Zuko repeated, looking at Katara.

The waterbender grabbed his wrist and started off in the direction she'd left before to follow the light. "I'll tell you on the way." she smiled.

A/N: Katara was this ][ close to telling him! Darn that inconvenient panda!

I'll be leaving for a trip soon and I'll be gone a week. I'll try to get another chapter typed before I go, but don't hold your collective breaths. The good news is it's a vacation so that means more time to type! Bad news is no internet, so no posting until I get back.

Chapter song: You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift