Hi guys! I am so sorry for the long wait but my life has been extremely busy for the past few months. Hopefully you haven't forgotten my little fic and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Thanks a bunch!

"Aang." Katara said pulling her hand away from Tarrik's shoulder quickly causing him to stumble slightly. "I didn't expect to see you, how have you been?"

"I've been... Well." Aang replied slowly, almost as if he was thinking of the best way to describe his feelings in the most direct way possible. An awkward silence hung in the room and it was clear that everyone, Jade included, was feeling uncomfortable.

"Errr. Jade, why don't you escort Tarrik down to breakfast, I'll follow shortly." Katara said slightly flustered. This really was not the reunion she had hoped for. As Tarrik nodded to the Avatar respectfully before following Jade and pulling the door behind them, the apparent weight of the situation seemed to dawn on Katara. Aang was here. He wasn't coming tomorrow, or arriving soon, he was right here. Katara didn't know what to do. She wanted to sit down but it felt as though her legs were locked in place, thankfully it seemed like Aang was going through the same thing.

"Your husband seems... Nice." Aang said smiling feebly.

"Husband!" Katara exclaimed. "Tarrik?! No, he's my..." she fumbled over the right word to describe what Tarrik was to her as politely as possible.

"Boyfriend?"

"NO!" Katara said passionately. She then sighed and smiled. "He's my babysitter. My dad sent him with me to help me these talks and keep an eye on me I guess."

"Oh thank goodness." Aang replied, the relief all too obvious on his face. He walked over to the sofa beside the window and flopped down, the worry now gone and a genuine smile across his face. "It's just, when I saw him here, I assumed the worst."

"The worst?" Katara asked, slightly upset at his phrasing.

"No no no, I didn't mean it like that. I would be happy if you had found someone, I just... I just..."

"It's ok, I understand." Katara said smiling whilst taking a seat opposite Aang.

"I've missed you." Aang whispered. He knew he shouldn't have but he would regret it if he didn't.

"I've missed you too." Katara said smiling warmly. And it was the truth; there were times where she missed his jokes, his laughter and even his quirks.

"We could try..."

"No, we couldn't." Katara interrupted. She had thought that their reunion, whenever it may be, could end up going down this route and so was not shocked by Aang's admission. "Aang, we're not meant to be together, but I do believe that we are meant to be friends. If you'd like, hopefully we could work on that while we're here."

"I..." Aang sighed. This wasn't the romantic reunion he had hoped for. Katara wasn't running back into his arms and they were not declaring their never-ending love to each other. But Katara somehow seemed happier, or perhaps lighter would be the better word to use. And though it broke his heart that it was clear that she had moved on, however, the fact that she still wanted a friendship with him touched him. "I would like that." He replied, smiling the first genuine smile that Katara had seen since he first arrived. She walked over to where he was sitting, sat down, and hugged him, hoping that everything she was unable to say could be conveyed in that hug. Unsurprisingly, he hugged her back.

"You've grown taller." Katara said grinning after their moment.

"Why does everyone keep saying that? I bet it's the beard; it makes my face seem longer. I haven't grown in three years."

"Yes you have." She replied nudging him playfully. "We should go down for breakfast before Tarrik does something he shouldn't.

"Not too fond of your babysitter I'm guessing."

"It's more like he's not too fond of me." Katara said opening the door so that they both could leave.

"I wouldn't worry about it. You'll win him over, you always do." Aang replied reassuringly. As they approached the end of the corridor Aang stopped.

"Are you not coming?"

"No." Aang replied scratching his head embarrassedly. "I should probably go and see Zuko first. He kind of doesn't know I'm here. I ... Errr...wanted to see you first."

"You sneaked into the palace!"

"Hey, I never said it was one of my greatest ideas. I'll see you around."

"Bye." Katara replied smiling. Minutes later, she found herself in the great hall with Tarrik who seemed to be poking his eggs cautiously. "How's your breakfast?" asked Katara.

"He's taller than I remember. I've never seen him as close as I did today, but he definitely seems taller." Tarrik replied not taking his eyes off his breakfast.

"I'll take that as a 'Breakfast is great.'"

"I overheard some of the guests mention that the meeting start tomorrow. I don't know how true that may be seeing as you were not notified but it does seem logical."

"Hmmm... Well I had hoped to do it tomorrow, but I suppose there is no harm in meeting Neyla today." Katara said shrugging. Tarrik dropped his fork. "Are you OK?"

"I... Errr... Why are you going to see Neyla?" Tarrik asked regaining his sudden lack of composure.

"Because I said I would. Why not today? Would you like to join me?"

"What! I...Errr... I mean. I... I'll come with you, but only because your father told me to watch out for you."

"I'll tell Neyla you said that."

"NO!"

"Gotcha." Katara replied grinning smugly.

oOo oOo

"Thanks Katara for meeting me today, and it's nice to see you again Tarrik." Neyla said whilst walking though the market. Tarrik smiled nervously and nodded.

"No problem Neyla, I did say that I would; and I'm glad I came, I don't think I've ever seen the market so busy."

"Me neither. It's probably due to all the visitors that have arrived. I can see a lot more Water Tribe and Earth kingdom stuff available compared to before. We should check it out." Neyla said enthusiastically whilst pulling Katara towards a particular stall while Tarrik followed. Katara didn't mind though, she enjoyed her time outside the palace and the weather, as well as Neyla's enthusiasm made her trip all the more pleasant. While Neyla was looking at items Katara glanced over to Tarrik. He had hardly spoken since they left the palace and was obviously very nervous. Katara smiled warmly. They had all been there before, and in most cases the best way to deal with it was to jump right in.

"I'm going to look around for a souvenir for Sokka he'll get cranky if I return empty handed."

"I'll go with you." Tarrik said suddenly.

"No. You stay here and watch over Neyla."

"Hey, I can watch over myself you know." chuckled Neyla.

"I know you do." Katara said. "That's why I want you to watch over Tarrik, he has that tourist look all over him" she whispered causing Neyla to smirk. "We can meet back here in an hour or two for lunch." And with that, Katara left the two to give them some much needed space.

Tarrik was terrified. He knew exactly what Katara was doing and why she was doing it. Typical Katara. "Why doesn't she just mind her own business?" he thought to himself. As quickly as possible, he glanced over at Neyla who at the very same time did the exact thing. Embarassment blossomed in his gut and he began to feel hot or at least hotter than he should.

"How are you finding the Fire Nation?" Neyla asked. Tarrik stared back at her almost in a daze. "Errr Tarrik?"

"Oh... Sorry... I...err... must have zoned out. Did you say something?"

"I asked how are you finding the Fire Nation?" Neyla said smiling.

"Errrr. Hot?" Tarrik replied. "How are you finding it?"

"I live here remember. I'm used to it."

"Oh right." Tarrik replied, mentally facepalming for his stupidity.

"You know, you're the first Water Tribe person I've met other than Katara."

"..."

"So, what's it like? The South Pole? Katara's told me a bit about it, but I'd like to hear your opinion."

"It's errr. Cold?"

"Can you only answer questions with one syllable?" Neyla asked giggling.

"No... I mean, it is cold, but it's also very homely. Our village, though larger in size to how it use to be has a strong sense of community. As for the landscape, I suppose you could say it has a raw beauty about it." Tarrik said all the while wondering where that had come from. He had never been much of a wordsmith, but for now he couldn't think of any better way to describe his homeland.

"Wow." Neyla replied in awe of Tarrik's statement. "It sounds beautiful. I'd like to go there one day."

"Errrr Neyla, forgive me for asking, but Katara told me your father was Water Tribe, didn't he tell you about the South Pole?"

"No, he died before I was born."

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"That's alright." interrupted Neyla. "I made peace with that a long time ago."

"Was he a trader or something?"

"Or something." She chuckled. "He was a prisoner."

"A prisoner?"

"Yes. My Grandmother was one of the last waterbenders taken from the South Pole to a prison in one of the villages that lie on the outskirts. What her capturers didn't know was that she was pregnant at the time."

"Wow. I mean... I.."

"It's ok Tarrik, no big deal, women get pregnant all the time. That's how the world works."

"Hey, you weren't this sassy at your home."

"And you weren't this talkative. Do you want to hear the rest of my story?" Neyla said grinning smugly. Tarrik nodded, glad at the growing ease at which they were talking to each other. "Anyway, eventually, my dad was born and the guards let him stay with my mother. My mother use to tell me that my father told her that even though his mother told him story of the South Pole, he could never imagine growing up anywhere else but that prison. Dreary though it was, it was his home"

"So what happened? Did they let him go?"

"He escaped. "

"How?!"

"Well, I don't know the specifics, but from the way my mother told me about it, what happened was that as my dad grew up in the prison, the guards had grown a soft spot for him and so were less strict when it came to him. After my grandmother died, my father decided that enough was enough and escaped. Although the guards didn't "help" him, they didn't try too hard to stop him either."

"So then what happened?"

"He ran for three days without food or water. My mother said that he was trying to make his way to the sea but headed the completely wrong way." Neyla chuckled. "Somehow, he ended up in our stables, where my mother found him. Over the next few days, my mother secretly looked after him and brought him food. She told me that even though he was a mess when she first saw him, she had never seen as beautiful a blue until she saw my father's eyes. That's why she wasn't afraid and why she's so glad I inherited that from him."

"They are beautiful... Errr... I mean, then what happened?"

"Thank you." Neyla replied sincerely. "My grandfather found out. My mother said, at first he was angry but that my grandmother calmed him down and reminded him that her mother was from one of the Earth Kingdom Colonies. But my grandfather was still fearful. You see, he wasn't angry that my mother had befriended my father, but worried about what would happen to the family if someone found out that a Watertribe prisoner had been staying there. You have to remember that during this time, no non Firenation nationals were allowed in the capital. So, he made a deal with my father that he could stay with us as long as he kept his head down, for 5 months working in the stables, but then he'd leave on my father's trading ship to the North Pole. Even though my father was from the South Pole he agreed, and that's how things went for a while. When my mother told me this story, she used to say "After the first month, I knew it was fate that brought your father to us. After the second month I realised that this man would forever change my life in some way. After the third month, I knew I loved your father and he loved me, and after the fourth month, I found out I was pregnant." Neyla said laughing at the obvious shock in Tarrik's eyes.

"What did your grandfather say?" So fully engroosed in Neyla's story that he didn't realise they were no longer in the market.

"He was furious. But funnily enough, more at my mother than at my father. He had a feeling that she was the one "putting the moves" on him with her being so troublesome and headstrong. Things were now more complicated and the news seemed to come at the wrong time. My grandfather had just struck a business deal with a Councilman who wished to visit to close the deal and with rumours of the avatar no longer being a myth, the whole capital was on edge." Neyla's eyes dropped and she sat on the ground with Tarrik doing the same. They were now in a grassy open space with the market being some way away from them.

"Neyla, you don't have to go on if it upsets you. I understand."

"No, I'm fine. Really I am, and I want to finish it. My story."

"Ok."

"The Councilman arrived outside our house at noon two days earlier than expected. My mother and grandmother were away at that time, and only my grandfather and a few servants were home. My father was working in the stables. You see, in the Fire Nation, when important guests are present, it is customary, especially in wealthy households to give your guest a tour of your home. When the Councilman arrived, my Grandfather was very aware of the fact that my father was in the stables and so made it a point to avoid them however, during the tour, a guard came to the door asking to speak my grandfather so he had to leave the councilman alone for a while. By the time my grandfather had returned, the Council man was no longer where he left him and instead, was in the room where yourself and Katara met with us the last time we saw each other. The Councilman then offered to trade with my father for a quarter of the price he promised. Annoyed that he had gone back on his word, my grandfather argued with him and broke the deal. You seemed shocked?"

"Well, yes, your family is so wealthy, I would think that price wouldn't matter much."

"Ah I see, and no. We might be well off now, but back then, we weren't and with my mother being pregnant, my grandfather knew that this deal would ensure his family's survival in the times to come. Anyway, as you probably guessed, the deal did not come to pass but before the Councilman left, he told my Grandfather of how much he enjoyed the tour and the 'wonderful exotic treasures' in the stables."

"My grandfather, confirmed with my father and realised that the Councilman had seem him whilst he had wondered off while my grandfather was distracted. That evening, my grandparents and mother pleaded with my father to leave but he said he would not leave my mother and my grandparents did not want her to leave with him. That night, guards came to our door to take my father. He didn't fight or hide, he simply left with them. I think he knew that this was probably the only way in which my mother and I would not have to suffer his fate. His last words to my mother were "I'll see you both again" though she never did.

"But he could still be alive!" Tarrik replied excitedly. "You could check the prison records or perhaps..."

"No no no. You don't understand. Back then, prison escapees were not returned back to prison. They were executed."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologise. It's not your fault and I made peace with it a long time ago."

"So what happened then? To your family."

"It was the talk of the town for a while, but the chief of police was an old family friend and so he stopped my grandfather from being punished too harshly. As for me, I was born in due time and named Neyla, after my father's mother Neyka."

"Wow... That was..."

"I know. It seems a bit much doesn't it?"

"No... I mean yes, I mean... It's a very touching story especially with it being yours." Tarrik said, smiling hopefully at Neyla.

"We should go back to meet with Katara, we've been gone for a while. Perhaps you could tell me a bit about yourself on our way back."

"Errrm... What would you like to know?"

"Do you like flowers?"

oOo oOo

"I have no idea what to get Sokka." Katara thought to herself. She was glad that she had given Tarrik a chance to talk to Neyla and hope that it would ease his temperament but now she was faced with the dilemma of deciding what to do with her free time. As she walked from stall to stall looking at the items and trinkets on sale, she spotted a familier hooded figure standing not too far from where she was. She walked up to it slowly making sure with each step that the person was who she thought they were.

"I didn't expect to see you here." She said tapping on his shoulder.

"That's the second time you've snuck up on me."

"I didn't sneak up on you Zuko, you've just become less observant over the years." Katar said chuckling.

"Shhhh. Not so loud. I don't want anyone to know I'm here." He replied walking away from the stall he was at.

"Why? And what are you doing?" Zuko sighed know that Katara wouldn't stop unless he told her.

"I'm listening to the city."

"What?"

"Listening to the city. Hearing the petitions of council members is one thing, but knowing how the people, my people, think and feel is another. One of the things I learnt from my travels is that the voice of the people is heard by those willing to listen and I don't want to be one of those leaders that is out of touch. I may no longer be one of the people, but through this, hopefully I can make decisions that are for the people."

"That..."

"Does it seem silly to you?"

"No. In fact, it seems the opposite. Your people are lucky to have a Firelord like you. I just wish you could do it more openly."

"No, this way is best. If people found out who I really was, I wouldn't be able to find out how they really feel."

"So, what has the city been telling you?"

"Not much. Many people are enthusiastic about all of the dignitaries that have arrived. A few people are worried about the increasing price of grain, which I'll have to investigate, but mostly people are excited about the arrival of the Avatar."

"Wow, news travels fast here."

"Yeah, I saw Aang not too long ago this morning, I have no idea how everyone else found out so quickly. "

"I spoke to Aang this morning too."

"Yes he said... Are you..."

"I fine. Really. In fact, it went a lot better than I thought it would. We haven't seen each other since... Well, since the last time we saw each other." Zuko looked at Katara suspiciously knowing that she was hiding something but not wanting to push any further. Katara on the other hand smiled warmly, touched by Zuko's worry for her wellbeing.

"Well, I'm glad then, we'll both need clear heads for the meeting tomorrow."

"Meeting? Tomorrow?"

"Yes, were you not told?"

"No I wasn't, but then I left my room quite early so perhaps that's why."

"Perhaps..." There was an awkward silence between the two of them. It was as if Zuko wish to say something but his mind thought better of it whilst Katara want to disscuss certain thing with Zuko but did not know if it was her place to. "Mai... She's...". Zuko stopped then smiled. "Nevermind."

"Zuko, would you like to meet for dinner. We haven't had a chance to really catch up since I've arrived and it would be nice to talk without you studying or being incognito."

"I'd like that."

"Great, where should we meet?"

"My room would be good."

"Your... Bedroom?"

"What? No!" Zuko replied suddenly. "No I meant my study. I should probably get out of the habit of calling it that."

"Yeah, you really should."

"I'll send someone over for you."

"Great! Well, I should head back. I'm meeting a friend and my babysitter for lunch."

"Babysitter?"

"I'll tell you later. Good luck with your eavesdropping." Katara said waving goodbye.

"Listening!" Zuko replied.

stagemanagertargaryen: Thanks! And yes, it wasn't the best of ways for Aang and Katara to "reunite". Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

a123b: You and me both! But don't worry, there will be plenty of Zutara goodness in the next chapter I promise!

Trich: Thank you. Sorry for the long wait. I hope you like this chapter.]

A Flicker of Candlelight: Yep. It was super awkward, but it turned out ok... Or did it?

Kimberly T: Thanks for your review and advice! Yeah, the bit with Mai was meant to turn out like "word vomit" in the sense that she has been holding it in so long and it has caused her so much stress that now that she has the chance to talk about it, she just can't keep it in and explodes. Very unMai-like, but she has gone through something that has changed her entire perspective... If you get what I mean. But thanks. Mai has never been an easy character for me to write so I just need to work on her a bit... And yes, that is why Tarrik was so young, and don't worry. The Tarrik/Katara round two is coming. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

To all my readers: Thanks for sticking with this fic. I appreciate it so much and am really touched by all of your support since I started writing TWTA. Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long as this one has! ^_^