Alright, here's another chappie. I hope you like it.

10. Never Really Gone

"Something's wrong. Tell me," Katara ordered, as Zuko walked into the bedroom. He had been gone all day and the three-year-old twins were already fast asleep in their bedroom.

Zuko looked at her with hurt in his eyes. He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her and sighed.

"I have to go away for a while. There is some work that I need to do in Kaji Arashi. It's on the other side of the Nation. It's a pretty full on job and I'm going to have to attend a lot of war meetings and other things. There's been a rebellion against the peace by some earthbenders. We're suspecting Long Feng and the Dai Li are behind it, but we can't be sure yet. I don't know how long I'm going to be away, but you're going to have to stay here with Uncle and the kids for a while. It looks like I'll be gone a few months."

Katara's face fell. She hated it when Zuko had to go away on business for long periods of time. But the longest he'd been gone so far was a month. It had been hard and tiring without him, but Iroh had gone with him at that point. He was going to stay this time; maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

She sighed.

"When are you leaving?"

"It just came up today. I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

Katara rolled her eyes and sighed again.

Zuko stood in front of her and cupped her face in his hands, tilting it up so that she looked at him.

"Hey, just don't stop loving me. I'll come back. But I'll never really be gone."

He kissed her gently on the forehead.

Katara wrapped her arms around his neck and his hands snaked around her waist. He kissed her deeply, but slowly and drew her body up to his.

They slowly waltzed towards the bed as Katara undid his robes and slipped them off along with his shirt. He undid her dress and it fell to the ground as they finally reached the bed.

Katara fell backwards onto the mound of cushions and Zuko came down gently on top of her...

When Katara woke up, she was on her own. The sun was already up and her alarm clock was the sound of her children calling out for her.

He must have already left…

Her eyes shut as a tear trickled down her cheeks. She was on her own again and this time, it was going to be for a long time.

She slipped out of bed and put her night gown over her naked form. She quickly went and fed her children and set them among their toys to play, before she returned to her room to change the sheets.

As she remade the bed, a piece of paper fell out from under her pillow. She looked at it and registered it was in Zuko's hand writing.

She opened it and read it.

My beautiful Katara,

Sorry I had to leave on such short notice. I didn't wake you because it already hurt so much to be leaving you. You look so peaceful when you sleep; I couldn't stand interrupting you and bringing you such sad news.

At the moment, the soonest I will be returning home is four months, but the longest it one year! Unfortunately, as Fire Lord, I have no choice but to attend to my duties. But don't worry – my duties to you will not be forgotten.

I let Sokka know I was leaving and told him to make sure you were alright with everything and to help out with you. I have already told my Uncle to drop by and check in on you.

I will be back soon. Anyways, it's as you've always said; as long as you never forget someone, they are never really gone.

Don't forget me, because I will never forget you. I will miss you a lot, and I promise I will write to you.

Love always, Zuko.

A tear dripped onto the piece of paper and Katara realized that she was crying again.

She quickly pulled herself together and put the note in her bedside drawer. She finished making the bed and got dressed properly before going and seeing to her own daily duties, both as a parent and as Fire Lady.

Kaji means fire in Japanese. Arashi means storm in Japanese. So basically, the city Zuko is going to is called Fire Storm. Jeez, I'm giving myself a cyber cookie for going to the trouble of finding all these words/names.

Last of all, if you wanna be part of Team Zutara, check out my profile page and follow the instructions.

Now, R&R.