Author's Note: Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry this is so late! Finals and visiting relatives got in the way of my writing, but here it is at long last so, enjoy!

Oh yes, here's another picture I did just for you guys! I would reccomend not looking at it until afterwards though

http/ www. deviantart. com/ view/ 34123203/

Got Your Heart in a Headlock

Chapter 10: Genius plans and butterfly kisses

The day dawned humid and overcast, hiding the sun from view. Even so, some internal clock within Zuko woke him at dawn. He lay for a moment, staring at Katara's back, debating on whether or now to wake her. In the end he decided against it and got silently to his feet and pushed his way out from under the pine branches. He stretched his arms above his head with a slight groan. Sleeping on hard ground again after a week of a nice soft bed was getting to him. He yawned broadly, hardly able to help himself. He hadn't slept well last night. What sleep he had garnered had been restless and full of tossing and turning. He had a feeling it had something to do with Katara, or lack of her, but he just couldn't bring himself to get closer to her.

Zuko massaged his temples with his index fingers, eyes closed, trying to relieve the pressure that was building up there. He froze though as he heard a sharp snap somewhere down the path that lay in front of him across the clearing. It had been too loud to have been made by something small. His hands dropped from his head and too his side. They unconsciously reached for his dual bladed swords, but they weren't there. Fire bending would be too noisy a way to attack if he was trying to be stealthy. He cursed himself for leaving his double bladed sword behind that he used mostly when disguised as the blue spirit. Well, he'd just have to do without. Avoiding the path, Zuko slipped silently into the forest to intercept whomever it was that had entered the area.

Katara woke to the sound of voices, angry ones at that. She sat up as quickly as her lethargic body would let her, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and opening them slightly, squinting against the sunlight that was pouring into the normally shady area under the boughs of the pine tree. As she listened in through the dissipating haze of sleep that hung about her mind, she recognized one of the loud, heated voices as Zuko. She'd heard him shout too many times not to recognize his voice, even though she was still practically half asleep.

"Zuko? Zuko, what's the matter?" Katara asked sleepily as she came into the clearing, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face. She paused uncertainly as she saw her older companion staring down a man with a glare that Katara was surprised didn't cause the other man to spontaneously combust. But no, the man simply stood there looking on calmly, not seeming to be bothered in the least. After a moment's careful consideration, and despite the fact that the visitor had a hood pulled up around his face, Katara realized that it was no stranger that had walked into their midst, but Iroh, Zuko's uncle.

"Iroh! What are you doing here? Has something happened?" The waterbender asked in concern, walking forward to greet the old man.

"Ah, Katara my dear, you look well." Iroh said with a smile, turning to the young woman and pulling back his hood.

"I was just informing my dear nephew of the, er, situation at hand."

"SITUATION!" Zuko demanded, yelling angrily as he whirled back around to face Katara and Iroh. Now that Katara thought about it, she'd really only heard one angry voice after all, Zuko's.

"Yes, situation." Iroh said calmly, stepping in-between Zuko and Katara just in case his nephew lost all control and went up in a blaze right then and there.

"No! A situation would be if there actually been fire nation troops down there in town a few nights ago when you sent us up here, but…Gaah!" Zuko tilted his head back in frustration and let forth a burst of fire and steam from his mouth.

"Iroh, what is Zuko trying to say?" She asked the man before her, one eyebrow raised at Zuko's fit of rage, shielding her eyes from the light of his fire for a moment before it faded again, leaving the young firebender standing with tightly clenched fists and chest heaving.

"My uncle, and those…those meddling old women tricked us!" He said, pointing angrily at Iroh, but looked at Katara with fiercely glowing golden eyes.

"Tricked us? But why? How?" he exclaimed, hardly able to believe it. Iroh was such a nice man, why would he trick her or his nephew? There was more to this than either of the men were letting on.

"Well, the truth is, the ladies and I thought…" Iroh began

"The reason doesn't matter for now." Zuko abruptly interrupted his face paling a bit in the morning light as he fidgeted noticeably.

Katara looked at Zuko, eyebrows raised. She opened her mouth to object, but she in turn was interrupted by Iroh.

"My nephew is right; the reason doesn't matter for now."

Katara sighed and held her hands up in defeat, knowing that she wouldn't be able to get the answer out of the two firebenders, not right now anyways. "In any case I've gathered that there weren't really fire nation troops down there that night you sent us out. If that's the case, then why are you here?" The female water bender asked, placing her hands on her hips and waiting for the answer.

Zuko relaxed visibly as Katara didn't argue with him, and he in turn averted his attention from the lovely water bender and back to his uncle as the old man began to speak. The ex-prince had yet to hear his uncle's reason for being here as he had interrupted him after the old man's first explanation.

"That was the case." Iroh began. "But at dawn this morning the ladies and I spotted real fire nation troops down in the village with at least three of their tanks. What their purpose for being here is we do not yet know; but for now we think it would be safer for you two to return to the sanctuary." He explained, folding his arms across his wide belly and watching the pair closely for their reactions.

Katara's bright blue eyes widened in alarm at the news, one hand straying unconsciously to the pendant at her neck as though trying to draw strength from it.

Zuko's eyes narrowed as his mind began to piece things together. In his mind he had no doubt that at the head of those troops would be his own sister, Azula. The young fire bender's hands clenched into tight fists, his eyes staring unseeingly into the forest as he felt his anger build up. The avatar had been through here, so that left no doubt in his mind that his sister was now in charge of catching the boy. He couldn't compete with her; she had an army behind her to follow her every order and capture the avatar. Not, he reminded himself, that it would matter if he did as he would certainly be taken into custody along with Aang if he was foolish enough to deliver him to his father.

Zuko was suddenly startled from these dark thoughts by a gentle hand lightly resting on his arm. He looked around and his heart nearly jumped as his golden eyes met Katara's large blue ones. He saw that they were filled with concern, an emotion reflected in her soft voice.

"Zuko, are you alright?" she asked, knowing that there was something wrong with her friend. The knuckles of his calloused hands were white from clenching them so hard.

"I'm…fine." He said and looked away, his fists loosening and the color returning to them. "We should get going." He said in his rough voice and ducked under the branches of the pine tree to collect their things.

Katara watched him go, worry showing on her darkly beautiful face, surrounded as it was by loose, flowing strands of brown hair.

This exchange did not go unnoticed by Iroh, whose old, weathered face held a bright smile that neither of the younger benders seemed to notice, though he did quickly tuck it away lest they should. Upon arriving he had worried that perhaps his plan had not worked, but perhaps it had worked better than he had initially thought.

It didn't take Zuko and Katara long to collect their few possessions and hide the remains of their campfire and any other signs that showed anyone had stayed there for a few days. As they left though, neither of them could resist looking back at that place of safe haven one last time. So much had happened there, they both thought, and now they were leaving. Katara couldn't help but smile as she turned her back on the place for the last time and began their trek back to the mountain sanctuary. Zuko nodded as though in farewell and followed after.

Getting back down the mountain was an easy enough task with Iroh leading them. The younger pair hardly remembered the path, having not traveled it since their original ascent and that had been in the dark and rain. Now though the afternoon was warm and the clouds that had been present that morning were quickly clearing away, making way for rays of sun pouring through the canopy of birch and pine branches, lighting the pathways with a dappled green light with deep green shadows off to either side.

With Iroh leading the way, Katara followed along behind him, carrying her pack, and Zuko in turn following along behind her. The young waterbender could not help but be in a good mood with the weather being so lovely. For the time being Katara pushed all thoughts of the invading fire nation from the mind and concentrated on the beauty of her surroundings. She hummed an old water tribe song to herself as she stepped lightly down the path, unable to help but sway her arms and hips a bit as she moved in step with her humming.

At first Zuko did his best to ignore the song Katara was humming as he was deep in thought, but at long last he looked up, ready to snap at her to be quiet and be more serious; but instead his golden eyes were immediately captivated by the female's gracefully swaying form. The more he watched and listened, the more he came to like the song and the waterbender's graceful dance. Dappled sunlight streamed across her features, over her chestnut hair and mocha skin, lighting her sea blue eyes, and casting shadows about her striking form. He had to catch himself as he nearly started humming along. He was filled with the desire to take Katara in his arms and dance with her, dance her away into the forest where they could be alone and…Zuko shook himself then. He really couldn't be thinking about this now. For all he knew his sister was sitting at the base of the mountain at that very moment, waiting for him to show up, he didn't have time for dancing!

Katara turned slightly as she heard a sad sounding sigh from behind her. "Is something the matter Zuko?" she asked him, spinning gracefully so that she was carried to the fire bender's side.

Zuko couldn't help but watch her graceful twirl as it carried her to his side. His head snapped up and looked straight ahead though as she started speaking to him, avoiding contact with her lovely blue eyes lest he lose himself.

"Nothing." He stated simply, and didn't say a thing after that despite Katara's continual prodding all the way down the mountain.

Iroh laughed a little to himself, hardly able to keep from doing so loudly enough for the young benders to hear him as they made their way steadily down the mountain.

The trio walked back into the sanctuary, blinking owlishly after their walk through the dark tunnel. Iroh looked around and seemed puzzled by the lack of people and the all together quietness of the complex. He motioned for the pair behind him to be quiet as he led them into the main building. He made his way through the halls until he came to a door which he promptly pressed his ear against and listened.

Katara and Zuko followed, opting to remain silent as they followed the old man, each on edge and ready to fight should something prove to have gone wrong. Both of them were startled when Iroh tumbled forward as the door he had his ear pressed against was whipped open in a noisy fashion. A surprised half-scream followed it.

"Iroh!" Emi cried in surprise, stepping back from the man as he picked himself up.

"What are you doing listening at the door like that?" Eri asked, helping him to his feet.

Katara could only giggle, and Zuko rolled his eyes.

"I am sorry to have alarmed you ladies, but when I saw how everyone seemed to have disappeared, I became worried. What is going on?" The old man asked as he dusted himself off.

"This!" Emi and Eri said simultaneously as Emi thrust a roll of parchment at him. "It seems that niece of yours is a bit vainer than you told us."

"Vain?" Iroh asked, puzzled as he took the roll of paper. His golden eyes skimmed it and his eyebrows shot up in surprise as he read.

"What is it?" Katara asked curiously and came up behind Zuko's uncle and read over his shoulder.

After a moment's hesitation Zuko joined Katara and began reading over his uncle's other shoulder. This confirmed it then, his sister was definitely here.

As the pair began to read, both of their eyebrows snapped up just as Iroh's had. They looked at one another incredulously as they finished reading.

In honor of the birth day of crown princess Azula of the fire nation and the capture of the water bending master companion of the Avatar, a celebration will be held…

The notice went on to describe the date, place, time, and a rather long list of important people who were required to attend…or else. Katara barely skimmed that part as the first sentence was what confused her the most.

"What on earth is this thing talking about. I haven't been captured!" she said irately.

"Uncle! What is the meaning of this?" Zuko demanded, hoping his uncle would have some clue as to what the madness on the piece of paper meant. Unless the Avatar had found a new waterbender to travel with, the firebender had an inkling that there was something else going on here.

Iroh frowned as he thought. "Well, after the Avatar and Katara's brother left, they must have been spotted without her." He said, looking over at the waterbender, who had paled considerably. She opened her mouth to speak, but Iroh held up a hand to stop her.

"No, I don't think Aang or your brother have been captured. If they had it'd be talking about them rather than you. Obviously my niece is trying to draw out the Avatar by making him think that she has you in her custody." He explained.

"Well then…" she began, but then suddenly paused, eyes widening. "Did you just say niece?" she asked. "As in that psycho is Zuko's sister!"

"Sadly, yes, she is." Iroh said with a shake of his head. "She's always been a little…extreme."

"If by extreme you mean a crazy psycho bitch, then yeah." Zuko growled, golden eyes glowing angrily just at the thought of his mad sister.

Katara could only stare at Zuko before shaking her head, sending her chestnut braid swaying as she sighed. "Will wonders never cease? I'm just glad you didn't turn out like her." Katara said, smiling up at Zuko.

The boy's cheeks definitely got a rosy hue as the lovely water bender smiled at him, or so Iroh thought. Things were going well indeed. But there was still this problem with Azula. Trust her to get in the way of things. Iroh didn't hear what his nephew's reply to Katara was, because at that very moment the man began to get an idea, and it made him smile.

Zuko and Katara had been dismissed from the office in which Iroh and the sister's had set up as the base of their plans, and were told to come back later that evening. As the door slammed shut in their faces, Katara and Zuko looked at each other, obviously confused.

"Well um, I'm going to go take a bath and such so…I'll see you tonight I guess." Katara said a little shyly and disappeared off down the hall before Zuko could reply.

The man watched her go, arms still folded across his broad chest; his shoulders sagged slightly as though he were exhausted. Truth be told, he was. He'd hardly slept at all the previous night, and whatever strength he had managed to save seemed to leave him as soon as she did. Barely realizing that he was even walking, Zuko made his way back to his room, nearly getting lost twice until at long last he was able to flop exhaustedly onto his bed where he fell asleep moments later.

Zuko awoke to orange rays of the dying sun pouring in through his window and landing across his lethargic form. Sunset…time to get up, the man's tired mind told him. It took him several minutes before he managed to rouse himself completely with much yawning and sleeping. Looking at where the Sun was on the horizon, Zuko made his way quickly to the bath house, and finding it empty, proceeded to bathe. He was out five minutes later feeling much more awake and dressed in clean clothes.

He jogged quickly back to the main building and through the halls. He slowed only when he came upon Katara who was going in the same direction.

"Oh, hello, Zuko." Katara said, smiling for his sake. She was feeling much better now that she was wearing clean clothes and had had a chance to bath and soak in the hot spring. She thought that Zuko looked much better too, even his scar didn't seem as bad as usual, but then again perhaps she was simply getting used to it. She could see that his hair was still wet from his bath. Seeing something on his face, Katara paused and reached up to brush something away from it.

Zuko froze in place as Katara unexpectedly reached up and brushed his temple with her thumb, his golden eyes met hers and for a moment he seemed to be teetering on the brink of a vast, endless pool of water.

"Just a stray bit of water from your hair." Katara explained as she drew her hand away again, though she did let her fingertips brush lightly against his scar as she removed her hand. She blushed slightly at her foolishness and quickly started off again.

Katara's voice seemed to break the spell she'd had Zuko under. He had to fight not to reach up and grab her hand, draw it to him and kiss her finger tips. Instead, as she walked off, he shook himself off and followed along a few steps behind her until they reached their joint destination.

It only took the young pair a moment to slip into the room quietly and settle themselves in two spare seats that had been set aside for them. The three oldsters all looked up at them as they entered.

"Well?" Zuko asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he sat back in his chair.

Iroh cleared his throat and said "Thank you for coming you two. After much thought and conferring, Emi, Eri, and I have taken stock of the situation and come up with what we think is an appropriate course of action."

Katara was sitting on the edge of her seat, hands clasped anxiously as she listened to what Iroh had to say. It was clear that she was worried about Aang and her brother.

"Once the Avatar sees these posters," Iroh began, holding one up for example, "I am sure that he will rush here in order to save you Katara. This is something we cannot allow to happen. So, the ladies and I have formulated a plan. You will go to Azula's party, and you will dance and have fun just like a normal well-to-do couple. However, this is merely a precaution for if Aang appears, so you must keep your eyes open for him should he come to rescue you as I am sure Azula expects him too. You will be there in intercept him before he can try anything that will attract attention to him and cause him to be caught by Zuko's sister."

"Uncle, that's ridiculous." Zuko said scathingly. "There is no way that Azula would not recognize me, or even Katara for that matter." He pointed out.

"Ah-hah! But that's where you're wrong!" Eri said with a comic wag of a finger. "It's a masked ball!"

"But," Eri interjected, "the men chosen by Azula to dance with her are forced to remove their masks…" she said, all eyes falling on Zuko.

"So what? I'll just make sure she doesn't dance with me." Zuko said, uncomfortable under the weight of everyone's stares.

"No Zuko, that's too risky. But from the sounds of it, you would be willing to help save the Avatar?" Iroh asked, raising an eyebrow.

Zuko also seemed to be suddenly struck by what he had been saying. Help save the Avatar? The obnoxious little bald boy he'd been chasing for months on end? Sure Zuko had no further use for the boy now, but to help him…The fire bender's eyes met Katara's wide blue ones that shone with hope as well as a tinge of fear that he might not help after all.

The seconds seemed to drag on into minutes for Katara as she watched Zuko, her eyes meeting his. In his golden eyes she saw uncertainty and confusion as well as a small tinge of fear. But eventually all that seemed to melt away and simply become resolve. Katara let out a relieved breath as Zuko nodded in agreement at long last. Instinctively she reached out and clasped his hand with her much smaller one.

"Thank you Zuko." She said quietly.

When the fire bender saw the happiness and relief in his companion's eyes, he knew that he had made the right decision. He would help her if not for the Avatar's sake, then for hers, and the love he knew he felt for her. When she unexpectedly slipped her hand into his, he squeezed it gently and offered her a rare smile. It was a small one, but still genuine and filled with kindness.

Katara was nearly taken aback by Zuko's transformation when he smiled. Her mind dithered about for a moment having lost its grip on reality, but when Iroh cleared his throat, she came back down to earth and pulled her hand from his. She smiled back at him and then an idea came to her.

"I…think I might have an idea of how to keep him from being recognized." Katara began, feeling a little uneasy, but seeing everyone turn to her expectantly, the young woman forged on.

"What if I were to heal Zuko's scar?" she suggested. "Because even if Azula chose him to dance with her and he took his mask off, she may think she recognized him, but of course he could deny it all because he wouldn't have his scar. Plus if he does a little acting and disguises his voice... what is the likelihood she'd realize who he was?" The last part all came out in a rush as she clenched her hands worriedly watching Zuko for his reaction.

At first Zuko felt a familiar anger bubbling up inside him, but it was quickly quelled and replaced with indecisiveness when he looked at Katara. He could see that she only meant well, and indeed, the plan did make sense…

"That sounds like a brilliant plan." Iroh said assuredly, his appreciation for the young water bender increasing. He and Zuko would surely have not thought of it. That scar had become such a part of both their lives that it was hard to think of life without it marring his nephew's otherwise attractive face.

"I…I'll have to think about this…" Zuko said grudgingly, lips turned down in a frown that made his scar more evident than ever. Without another word he turned on heel and marched off in the opposite direction, shutting the door smartly behind him.

"Zuko I…" Katara said as she began to run after him, but was stopped by a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Give him time. He will come to you when he is ready." Iroh counseled the girl with a gentle, understanding smile.

It was late and the moon was already high in the sky as Katara stood before her open window, watching it drift serenely across the night sky with blue eyes that reflected its pure white light. The waterbender found herself quite unable to sleep despite how tired she felt. She was worried about Zuko. Would he take her offer of help, or would he turn her down?

These deep, concerning thoughts were interrupted by a sudden need to use the restroom. Moving as quietly as possible the girl made her way to the bathroom, returning a few minutes later feeling physically better, but just as tormented and sleepless mentally.

As she turned down the hall and into the hall where she and Zuko's rooms were located, she paused as she saw a shadowy figure lurking outside her door. At first she didn't recognize it, and considered calling for help, until the figure noticed her standing there at the end of the hall.

"Katara?" called a rough, familiar voice.

"Zuko? What are you doing out here so late?" Katara asked in concern. As she walked forward to meet him, she clutched the thin, blue crane patterned silk robe she was wearing closer to her body. It went down to her knees and the long, white silk, sleeveless dress she wore under it made small, soft sighs with every step she took towards the exiled prince, her concern showing through her bright blue eyes.

Zuko's eyes took in the visage of sublime beauty making its way towards him, calling his name, worrying about him of all people. He tore his eyes from Katara and looked anywhere else but her for a moment so that he could speak without being distracted.

"I've decided. I…want you to heal me." Zuko said rubbing one hand through his short black hair anxiously.

At these words Katara smiled up at him, catching both of his pale hands in her dark ones. She knew that it had most likely been a difficult decision for him. To get rid of something that represented so much to him... "Oh Zuko…I'm so happy." Katara whispered quietly for his ears alone. She drew him into her room and closed the door behind her.

"Here, go ahead and have a seat." She said.

Zuko nearly blushed as the woman pulled him into her bedroom. It was plain, but well kept. The state of the bed led him to believe that she'd had as little sleep as he'd had. Seeing nowhere else to sit in the room, the fire bender settled himself on the edge of the bed, nerves fairly vibrating with tension. That all seemed to melt away though as Katara returned to him, her curves shifting alluringly just out of sight beneath her silk bed clothes, she smiled demurely at him, her blush going unseen in the shadows of the room. She carried her water flask in her hands and opened the top as she sat a few feet away from Zuko on the bed. For a moment the man began to feel crestfallen at the distance she had put between them; at least until he caught the movement of her left hand clearly motioning for him to lay his head in her lap.

Katara watched as Zuko hesitated, obviously thinking about what a precarious situation this could turn into. It only lasted a moment though, and the man shifted his weight and leaned back on the bed and rested his head in her lap.

"Now just lay still and don't move." Katara murmured quietly as she formed her faintly glowing healing glove around her hand.

Zuko folded his hands across his stomach, muscles tensing as a nervous reaction to what was about to happen. But with his head pillowed in Katara's lap, it was hard to hold on to that feeling of apprehension. He closed his eyes and allowed Katara to rest one of her small, delicate hands on his gravely burned face. He sighed pleasurably as a cool, healing sensation swept through his eye and face, calming the constant burning sensation he'd felt every day for the past two years.

Katara watched and concentrated as she ran her fingers gently down the man's face and back up again. It took several minutes, much longer than usual; she credited that to the age of the wound though. She watched in amazement as with each pass of her hand a little more of the scar disappeared and soon all that was left was smooth, pale new skin.

"Zuko…" she whispered breathlessly as she stared down at his face in amazement.

The fire bender's gold eyes flickered open, unwillingly at first, but then widened in surprise. The first thing he noticed was the range of view he now had from his left eye. One hand raised itself and went to the once scarred flesh now made new and smooth, hardly able to believe it.

"Here, take a look." Katara whispered, still in shock as she handed him a small hand mirror from the bed side table.

Zuko took it and held it before his place and was taken aback by what he saw there. Where he had grown accustomed to seeing angry red flesh and a malformed eye there was now smooth pale flesh and a normal golden eye wide with surprise. Zuko closed his eyes and put the mirror aside, taking a deep, shaky breath.

Katara let him be for a moment, knowing what a change this must be for him. She began to hum quietly and running one hand comfortingly through Zuko's short black hair as she waited for him to come back to her mentally.

Katara's song and gentle touch eventually brought Zuko around again and he caught her hand in his own and held it there as he turned and sat up, now face to face with her.

"Katara, I…" Zuko looked at her, hardly able to convey his gratitude to the water bender for what she had done for him.

"It's okay, it was nothing." Katara said with a small, shy smile, her heart beginning to race with his close proximity.

"No, it wasn't nothing, it isn't. You've done so much for me…and I…" Zuko couldn't finish his sentence as his fiery golden eyes met her serene blue ones. He began to lose himself in those eyes, and unlike earlier that evening, this time he let himself be pulled in. He moved in closer and brushed a stray strand of hair from the face of the beautiful woman before him.

Katara in turn raised her own hand and cupped his now unmarred left cheek in it, but stared into his golden eyes, feeling the heat within her rise further with every passing moment that she remained in contact with those amazing amber orbs.

Suddenly, as though some inner wall had crumpled within him, Zuko leaned forward and tentatively brushed his lips against hers and pulled back to gauge Katara's reaction.

A small smile curled up the corners of Katara's lips at the sensation of Zuko's brief kiss that brushed against her lips as lightly as a butterfly's wings. Her hand slipped down to his shoulder as she smiled.

Zuko took the smile as a good sign and moved in again, this time pressing his lips more firmly against hers, though still gently, not wanting to scare her off. His hands drifted down to her hips and pulled her in closer, her soft, supple body pressing firmly up against his. He had always thought that as a water bender, her body would be as cool as her healing hands were, but the soft flesh that pressed up against his hard, muscled torso was warm to the touch and welcomed his embrace around it.

Katara's heart increased it's rate as her eyes widened a bit as Zuko's lips pressed against hers once more and pulled her against him. She let her hands move from his shoulders and down his chest, tracing the muscles that lay only a thin piece of fabric away from her questing fingers. She felt his tongue brush against her teeth, seeking entrance to her mouth, and she opened obligingly, releasing her own tongue into his. She thought he tasted smoky like a wood fire on a cold night that you just couldn't get close enough too. This was how Katara felt now as she fumbled with the front of Zuko's shirt.

Pleased that Katara trusted herself to him, Zuko deepened his kiss, the muscles of his chest tensing under the water benders touch. As she worked to remove his shirt, he pulled the robe down off her shoulders, brushing her bare flesh with his hands, her night gown was still in the way though.

As they came up for breath, Katara tugged off her robe, leaving only the thin, silky night dress, and Zuko removed his shirt before swooping back in for another passionate kiss.

Katara let out a moan of pleasure as Zuko's hand began to caress her thigh and then make its way up to her hip and under her dress. She pressed herself against him while running her hands down his back, tracing his shoulder blades and then running back up to his hair which she stroked lovingly, twining some of the longer bits around her fingers.

Zuko moved his hand up to her belly, tracing a spiral onto the soft, prone flesh he found there. He broke off their kiss and began trailing kisses down her cheek and onto her throat, causing her to sigh in pleasure.

As Zuko's lips caressed her throat, Katara took in the sight of his bare, pale flesh in the light of the moon that streamed in through her open window; from his sharp jaw line to the line of his powerful shoulders, the way the light hit his unmarred, handsome face.

As Zuko paused in his ministrations, Katara leaned forward and kissed him lightly above his left eye on the new, pale flesh and caressed his jaw with one hand, smiling.

"You're beautiful." Zuko suddenly said as though getting some weight off his chest. His face was serious, but his golden eyes shone with happiness in a way that Katara had never seen them do so before. He cupped her hand in his, halting in its tracks on his face. He drew it away and kissed her finger tips, though his golden eyes lingered on her face, a vision of heavenly beauty. Somewhere along the line her hair had come out of its braid, left to cascade freely down her back and shoulders in glossy chestnut waves. Her icy blue eyes were cast into shadow by the light of the moon, and yet seemed to glow of their own accord as they met Zuko's. He smiled against the tips of her soft fingertips as the woman blushed. She opened her mouth to say something, and Zuko waited eagerly to hear her lovely voice call his name again, but she was interrupted by a noise from outside her window which made them both jump as though they'd been hit by lightning.

Zuko leaned over some to peer out the window, eyebrows furrowed in immense displeasure at being interrupted. Katara also turned to look, but neither of them saw a thing outside besides the occasional tree.

Katara sighed and smiled ruefully at Zuko who was still holding onto her hand. She reached up and tucked a lock of her long brown hair behind one ear, blue eyes glittering in wry amusement.

Zuko couldn't help but smile back, and watched as the water bender before him struggled to stifle a yawn.

"You should get some sleep." Zuko whispered in his rough voice, slipping off the bed and standing. He looked around for his shirt and saw Katara stand and offer it to him, having obviously found it first. As he reached for the shirt, he grabbed her wrist at the same time and pulled her into a tight embrace as though he were afraid to let go, afraid that when the sun rose all of this would have been nothing but a dream.

Katara hugged him back, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest, reveling in the warmth of his bare skin as it pressed against her. They remained there for a time, both of them unwilling to disentangle themselves from each other after only just realizing their feelings for one another.

At long last though, Zuko released his hold on the slender water bender and stepped back, letting his hand trail along her arm, regret showing in his eyes. He wanted so much more, wanted to taste her in far more intimate ways…and yet, he couldn't, not yet, and he knew it too, in his heart.

Katara watched him disappear silently from her room, one hand clutching at her silk robe, the other resting gently on the place above her heart. She stood there for a moment, still in a euphoric state of mind before returning to her bed, regretting that she hadn't asked him to remain there with her. She felt so alone without his arms wrapped around her.

Zuko returned to his own room, feeling much the same as the woman in the neighboring room as he dropped onto his bed, still shirtless. He tugged the blankets up over him and lay there on his side, staring out the window at the moon as it made it's way slowly across the night sky. It's light reminded him of that subtle glow that was ever present in his love's eyes. His love? When had he started thinking of Katara by that name? He couldn't help but smile to himself though, despite the emptiness he felt without her there beside him. Calling her his love seemed so natural, it just…fit.

That night Zuko drifted off into a peaceful sleep, his now unmarred face hiding a secret smile that expressed the happiness he felt in his heart.

OMG guys! I'm so sorry this is so absurdly late! Finals were last week though, and this week my aunt has been in town and next week I'm in New York…argh! But it's almost over now, which is a bitter sweet thing, is it not? I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! They finally kissed, huzzah! Hopefully it filled your need for fluff! Oh yes, and here's the pic again just in case you missed it the first time, expect a colored version soon!

http/ www. deviantart. com/ view/ 34123203/

Kat A. Klysmic