What goes around comes around, that's what Katara always believed, that everything in life happens for a reason, but know, she wasn't so sure about anything anymore. She gathered the plates from the top shelve of the kitchen and brought them out to the dining room. She had avoided Zuko all week, she knew that if she looked at his ember eyes she would take all she said back, she loved his idiotic and witty personality, and it was driving her crazy. She heard the sound of footsteps down the corridor and smiled to herself. Things with her parents had gotten better, they seemed to understand that she was free to do whatever she wanted including having a "relationship" with a fire bender. She walked back to the kitchen, only to find Zuko standing near the door when she looked up. She held her breath, his presence was strong, even when she couldn't look him in the eye she knew he was there.

Katara admired him for a second; his hair was tussled as if he had just woken up. He was only wearing a pair sweats and a fitted white shirt. Her eyes wondered aimlessly over his body, he was intently looking at the book he had in his hands. His eyebrows creased in intense concentration, she tried to peek at the title of the book but Zuko's eyes looked up and met hers. Just kill me right now. Katara had always faced her problems, always, how come she couldn't face the problem in front of her?

She tore her eyes from Zuko and walked past him making him grab her by the arm. His hands found her waist and his mouth came to her neck moving slowly to her ear, her eyes closed. This is madness. "You wanna tell me why you're avoiding me, Katara,"the way he said her name made her shiver.

"Have I?" she answered innocently, turning to face his golden eyes, "I haven't noticed, sorry."

His lips turned at the corners, "Avoiding your problems is not the answer and you know it."

She began cleaning, in order to keep herself busy, and not melt in Zuko's eyes. "Problem? What exactly is my problem?"

He leaned against the doorway, "I don't know you tell me."

She looked at him and sigh, "I you're referring to what happened between us, forget about it."

A devilish grin played on his lips, "What happened between us? I didn't know something happened between us."

Katara tried to hide the shock in her voice, "Well something happened last weekend."

Zuko looked utterly confused, his eyebrows furrowed, "I don't recall anything."

She came closer to him whispering, " You said you had feelings for me."

Zuko's eyes sparkled and suddenly he began to laugh, "I said what?"... "I must have had a lot to drink.."

Katara was furious, 'What the hell are you saying? That I imagined everything?," she poked his chest, "You told me you have feelings for me you idiot!"

Zuko looked uninterested, "Don't flatter yourself; I say anything when I'm under the influence, or should I say I say anything to get what I want."

Katara backed away, she didn't want to cry but this stupid fire bender was getting the best of her. He was really denying his feelings; fine two can play that game.

She smiled wickedly, "you and I are the same, we say anything to get what we…want."

If he had been caught by surprised he showed no sign of it, his grin grew wider, "Be careful Katara, don't play with fire…" he walked behind her again, she felt his breath near her ear, "you might get burned." Something in the way he said it made her tremble but before she could slap him he disappeared through the back door.

Her hands were in knots, I knew it! I'm so stupid! She slammed her hands against the counter. "You'll pay Zuko," she stalked out of the room; Zuko came in the Kitchen smiling to himself, "let the games begin."

Everyone waited for Katara at the dinner table, but Zuko was nowhere to be seen. Katara took her seat across from Jet, he smiled when he saw her, and somehow his smile was… welcoming. Katara pushed her anger away, "sorry I'm late everyone, I ran into…" she paused, "a complication."

Her mom placed a hand above hers,"anything I can help with?"

Katara smiled, "no mom everything is fine."

"Where's Zuko? He's missing dinner" Katara's dad asked

"Probably screwing peoples lives," Katara mumbled, her dad looked at her amusingly, "What was that honey?"

Katara swallowed, "He's probably training, he should be here soon."

"Let's hope so," Toph smiled at Katara. Suki and Sokka walked into the room laughing and holding each other's hands, Katara looked at them curiously. She wasn't jealous of seeing them, they just made her hopeful, of what, she didn't know, or at least she didn't want to admit it.

"Where's Aang?" she asked Sokka, "I haven't seen him all day."

Sokka shrugged his shoulders, "Monk stuff I guess, he's been in his room all day." Katara nodded, she felt she had abandoned Aang, and the strong relationship they once had was withering.

They ate in contempt. They were laughing at one of Sokka's jokes when Zuko walked in. All the female attention turned to him and boy did that guy need to learn to wear a shirt every so often. Katara's mom dropped her fork and Suki nearly choked on her noodles.

"Sorry I'm late, I got caught up in the training," he said with a boyish grin. Katara's dad waved his hands, "you got her just in time, now that we're all here I can say the news."

Zuko took the seat next to Katara, 'Sorry I'm late baby," he said innocently. Katara didn't know if she was more shocked from seeing him shirtless or from what he said, 'It's fin.." she began when Zuko pulled her in for a quick kiss. Her eyes widened and her body felt woozy.

Zuko merely smiled, " I've been needing one of those all day," he winked at her.

Katara's world froze for a moment, what the hell was that?! Jet's expression hardened and his look was no longer welcoming. Everyone seemed to have been caught off guard.

"So what's the news chief?" Zuko asked barely taking notice of everyone's expression; he took a bite off his garlic bread.

Katara's dad shook his head, "well…" he looked at katara, "Me and your mom will be returning home. He paused taking in Katara's expression, "why?" she asked, "is something wrong?"

Her parents exchange glances, her dad begun, "well, I haven't been feeling too well, I think maybe… maybe it's time for me to give me position to someone else.'

"What!" Katara nearly yelled, "What do you mean? You can't give your position, the people need you dad!"

Her father looked thoughtful, his eyes were filled with sadness, "I know Katara, it is because they need me that I must resign, the people deserve the best of me, and right now I'm not my best."

Katara looked intently at her father, she knew he wasn't feeling good but she didn't think it was that serious. "Well, is there anything we can do?"

His expression became serious, "There is but I would never allow it," he looked at Katara, "I'll be fine I promise."

Katara stood up and walked to her father's side, he grabbed her hand gently, "Things are not as bad as they seem, " he began to cough and Katara flinched, he cupped her face, "we'll talk about it later, I think I should go rest."

Katara nodded and smiled sadly, "Alright, I'll come see you in the morning." He gave her a quick hug and retreated to his room.

Katara stood in place thinking to herself then turned to her mother, "What can I do?" she asked in a serious tone.

Kya looked taken back, "sweetie, please, It's not my position to say anything." Katara walked towards her mother, 'please mom I need to help him, he would never leave his people, this must be killing him."

Kya looked at her hands and spoke silently, "marriage," she looked up at Katara, "marriage is the only way.'

Katara sat down, " Marriage?," she whispered.

"What do you mean marriage mom?" Sokka blurted out.

Kya looked uncomfortable under the circumstances but before she could speak Katara began, her voice was mechanical and forced.

"She means that in order to keep fathers place one of us has to marry in order for the family to stay in power," she looked at her brother who for the moment looked serious.

"Katara," her mom began, "let's not rush ourselves, let's hope it doesn't have to come down to that," she smiled slightly.

"I hope not mom, but you and me both know that the chief's position has only been held by our family, I'm afraid of what would happen if someone else took it."

'That's not going to happen, and like your father said he wants the best for his people, he'll know what to do," she sighed sadly, " I'm going to go check on him," she stood up and walked out the room silently. Katara watched her mother turn around and disappear, she closed her eyes.

"Katara?" Sokka interrupted her thoughts, "Let's not rush ourselves, dad will get better."

"Yea," was all she said then stood up and walked towards her room. Marriage, the word ringed in her mind, she sat in her bed, not wanting to think about anything but finding that she thought about everything all at once. Katara knew that if it came down to it, she would do whatever it took to keep her father happy and safe. She lay in her bed throwing the pillow on top of her head. Her eyes closed tightly and sleep came slowly. Katara didn't hear when a golden eyed stranger came into her room and laid her atop of his chest, they both slept in each other's arms.

Katara

She didn't have nightmares; it was perhaps the most peaceful sleep she had in a long time. The light of the morning woke her slowly; she smiled then abruptly stopped when she felt a slow breathing beneath her. She sat up in a second, her eyes set on the sleeping Zuko. Her hands came to her chest, he was so beautiful, and he looked like a sleeping angel, his bare chest exposed to the morning breeze and his black raven hair falling over his eyes. There was a slight smile on his lips, Katara longed to run her hands over his chest, but instead she did the next smartest thing, she punched his stomach. His eyes opened in complete shock and he groaned, "What the hell," he said furiously.

She threw her pillow at him, "Why are you in my bed?!"

Zuko held his stomach and sat facing her, "You're forgetting it's my bed too."

She began hitting him with the pillow, "Get out!"

He dodged her every blow, grabbed her by the wrist, and pinned her down on the bed, his body covering hers completely, a devilish grin on his face.

"Are you sure you want me to leave," he asked seductively.

She stuttered, her heart beating fast enough to hear, "Y..ye," Zuko crushed his lips on hers, and everything she wanted to say was forgotten. Her arms came around his neck and her legs unknowingly came around his waist. His tongue bid entrance and they lost themselves in a sea of each other. Zuko pressed himself against her making her moan; she could feel his heart and the way it beat in sync with hers. His hands traveled down the side of her body, what am I doing he lied about his feelings for me, she pushed him of her so that he was on the bottom and she was straddling his waist. She used her water bending and froze his hands against the bed.

"You'd be surprise by how much I'm enjoying this," he said in a dark voice.

"What did you think you were doing by kissing me?" she demanded putting her face mere inches away from him.

"Kissing was not the only thing I wanted to do," he winked at her. She grabbed his face staring into his golden eyes, "Keep your hands and thoughts to yourself."

He laughed, making her body tremble, "I don't know about the hands part, you're my girlfriend after all," he pushed forward and bit her bottom lip.

She pushed him back, "ouch," she slapped his chest, "you're an animal," and I'm not your girlfriend." She looked at him, god he was good looking.

"Watch your words little girl," he broke away from his ice cuffs and grabbed her against his chest, "you're mine, until I decide otherwise." She froze in place, her eyes fell to his lips, and her body quivered beneath his. She could see herself in his eyes and could feel his breath. They looked at each other intently, both so different yet so similar. They were water and fire, different in every single aspect yet similar in passion.

Katara wanted him and she wanted him bad, her heart beat fluttered at a furious beat. She was leaning to him when Sukki barged in the room.

"Kata..," her eyes widened.

"Suki!" Katara jumped off Zuko, "It's not what you think." She looked hopelessly at Zuko who was apparently amused.

Suki covered her mouth, "I'm so sorry," she shook her head "I should have knocked."

"Don't worry about it," Zuko said, "just be glad you didn't come in a few minutes later, you might have caught us naked," he winked at her. He rose from the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.

Katara's face went white, "Suki…I"

Suki smiled nervously, her eyes giving small glances to the bathroom, "its ok… it's something normal in a relationship."

Katara almost lost it then, "What!... no, no,no, we we'ren't doing," she gulped, "that."

Suki laughed, "whatever you say, but can I just say," she came closer to katara and whispered, "You are so lucky, with that body and that face, I would never leave my room."

"Suki! What the hell!"

Suki giggled, "You know it's true."

'Why did you barge into the room like that anyway?" Katara asked changing the subject.

Suki looked at her in a confused manner; her eyes shifting from the bathroom door to Katara, then realization hit her eyes, "Oh, your dad was asking for you."

Katara nodded, "I'll go see him in a bit"

"Okay," she nodded "and if you're a little late to breakfast I'll understand," she winked.

Katara blushed, "bye!"

"No love without the glove," Suki said laughing as she walked away. Katara shook her head but smiled. Truth was Zuko made the freaking lamp post horny. Katara didn't realize until this morning how the body's needs could be so overwhelming. Being so close to Zuko made her momentarily want to tie him to the bed and just savor every part of his body. Katara closed her eyes, Stop thinking about him, he's just playing with you, no matter how convincing he looks, it's all a lie. She was about to turn around when Zuko came out of the bathroom and froze her in place. Her eyes widened, he was completely naked, his member hung boldly in place, he ran his hands through his hair, then his eyes stopped at where Katara stood shocked and mesmerized I mean horrified. Zuko smiled, "you're still here, I thought you left with Suki."

She backed herself into the wall and shook her head, "N.. ," she stuttered.

Zuko approached her menacingly, a lion hunting his prey, "What's wrong Katara?" he pressed her against the door, she gasped, "never seen a guy naked." She closed her eyes, but instead of pushing him away her body remained frozen in place. She couldn't open her eyes, he would see the lust in them. His mouth was suddenly on her neck, devouring her very soul, he pressed her closer against the wall making her whimper and him laugh, his mouth traveled from her neck to her jaw and lingered over her mouth but didn't touch her lips. She opened her eyes suddenly and she met his eyes, they were dark then he smiled and kissed her. Her legs went weak; he laughed against her mouth then grabbed both her legs and wrapped them around him. Katara moaned the feel of him was ecstatic, she felt it, and boy did it feel good so good that she began rubbing herself against him making him moan. Zuko was hard and the feeling of having her so vulnerable was driving him nearly mad. He growled and in one sudden movement ripped her nightgown off leaving her only in underwear, he crushed his lips against her making her moan. Her mind was clouded with lust; she was becoming more animalistic, holding on to him with dear life. They moaned against each other when they felt that only a thin fabric was separating them from becoming one. She heard footsteps in the corridor and pushed Zuko away, his eyes were as dark as night, his breath was ragged; Katara grabbed the nearby robe covered herself then ran out the room.

"Katara!" Zuko yelled behind her, but she kept running.

Zuko

Zuko smiled to himself; boy did Katara know how to drive a guy mad. His body still shivered from its recent activities. He had never wanted something so much in his life as much as he wanted Katara, but it wasn't just the physical aspect which was driving him insane. It was the fact that he wanted her in every sense of the word, in body and soul. He hadn't planned on falling in love but then again who does. It was something that consumed him and tore him apart. As much as he hated to admit it he was terrified, it wasn't something he could control, and every time katara was close to him his mind became clouded, and it seemed like he belonged to her more than to himself, because well Katara owned him, he was hers and she was his.

This little game he started was because she couldn't admit that she had feelings for him. She's so naïve, it was bad luck for her, because the games had just begun.