Chapter 11! The longest one so far! The story is coming to an end… I guess it will still take three, maybe four chapters before it's over. Enjoy reading!

Chapter 11: …and in health

I couldn't sleep. I lay on the beach with my eyes wide open, staring at nothing but darkness. It would be full moon in a few days, but still I couldn't see a thing because it was very cloudy. Only the sheen of the moonlight on the ocean in the distance assured me my eyes were open and I was still lying on the beach. And I still was still not sleeping.

Every single time a strange sound drowned out the noise of the see, I cowered like little child. I wasn't used to sleeping alone, and was so scared I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown any moment if no one was coming to join me in the night. I was even so scared a tear ran down my face, or that was what I told myself. It might not have been out of fear.

I had to admit: I missed Zuko. If I knew where he was, I would immediately disappear in the darkness to steal him from his sister and her two friends. I regretted letting him go, but there was no way back. I had to focus on what I was going to do now. I had walked the whole day and had eventually reached the most northern point I could go. I only still had to cross the water to get to the Northern Water Tribe.

Because that was where I was going.

Wasn't it?

After I had left, Aang must have searched for a water master in the Northern Water Tribe to replace me with, so with a bit of help of the universe, someone over there might be able to tell me where they were now. Or maybe I would even stay there for a while, finally having some kind of a home and a bit of rest. I bet they hadn't repaired all the buildings Zhao had destroyed yet, so maybe I could help rebuilding in return for lodging.

I gawped. It was all going to be okay. If I only could sleep a bit…

A little scream escaped my throat. My hand had bumped into something hard and cold. I lay my hands on my mouth to prevent I was going to scream once again.

'Katara?' someone whispered, almost inaudibly.

Even if I had laid my hands on my mouth, I still screamed a second time. I turned myself towards the voice and glanced in the darkness. 'Who is there?' I got no answer, but noticed it was all of the sudden very, very quiet. Almost too quiet. Even the ocean seemed to keep quiet. I could almost hear my heart beating. 'I must have heard it wrong.' I whispered.

'You haven't. Please don't be scared, but…'

I was startled by the lips brushing my ear and pushes myself up to run away from whoever just whispered that in my ear. Relying on the deep voice, it was a "he". The stranger grabbed my foot as I ran away and I fell down. I held my hand out to form a whip of the water to make his hand letting me go, but we were too far on the beach so it took a while to reach the water. He was faster and threw himself on top of me with his arms around me.

'Damned, didn't I just tell you not to be scared?'

'Get off of me!' I screamed.

'Shh, Katara, it's me, Okay? Remember me? Prince from the Fire nation?'

'What? Zuko? I don't recognize your voice,' I said hesitatingly.

'Oh, that's the problem. I know my voice is a bit hoarse, I got to shout a lot today.'

'So it's really you?'

'It's me.'

'Then could you please get off of me?'

It remained quiet. I almost thought he wasn't going to answer anymore, when he said: 'That depends on if you'll still try to attack me and run away.'

I sighed, half relieved, half irritated. 'I promise I won't.'

'Thank you.' Zuko rolled slightly moaning off of me.

I got back on my knees and rubbed my aching shoulder. 'Are you okay? What happened?'

'Yes, just a bit stiff. I've run all night long. Mai and Ty Lee were supposed to guard me, but because of I pretended to be still ill and asleep, they didn't expect me to escape. Ty Lee just walked away to get some water and Mai had fallen asleep, so I took the opportunity to walk to Azula, where my dao swords were and ran away. I'm still going to the Northern Water Tribe, of course, so I ran to the most northern point and decided to wait patiently for the day to come to cross the water. Then I heard a scream, and the only person I expected sleeping and screaming here on the beach, was you. I must say I'm surprised. Why are you still going to the Northern Water Tribe?'

'I… don't know,' I decided to answer, 'It just felt the good thing to do.'

I couldn't quite see it, but I thought to see Zuko nodding. 'That's how I feel as well,' he said quietly.

'But why? Is it just because it feels the right thing to do?' I asked desperately.

For the second time, it remained quiet. I had lost hope on knowing the truth, but then Zuko sighed. 'It's because of I feel like this is my chance to see my mom again. After all these years.'

I raised an eyebrow. I had thought of a lot of explanations, but hadn't count on this. 'Zuko, your mom is not going to hide in a Water Tribe. She's a woman of the Fire Nation.'

'I know. But…'

'Zuko…' I began, but I stopped as he sent out a ball of fire in the air. Because of the fire I could see the harassed expression on his face.

With clenched fists he got to his feet and began pacing up and down. 'No! I'm sure. In the forest, I dreamed about her, she didn't say anything; she just smiled at me while she was standing in front of a pond. As I woke up, I just knew she wanted me to come, and I knew where it was. I have never been so determined in my life before. And I know you'll tell me it was just a dr…'

'Zuko,' I interrupt him while I got closer, 'I understand.' I thought of my own dreams, my own feelings, my own thoughts and desires. I thought of my own mom. 'More than you'll ever know.' My hand flew to his shoulder and I squeezed softly.

And again, a silence fell. Zuko sat down next to me again and sighed. 'Thanks,' he whispered.

I crept closer, until we sat shoulder to shoulder. 'Do you think you can tell me about your mother?'

Zuko looked surprised. 'If you'd like that. Her name is Ursa. We were very close. Since she's gone, not a single day has passed without thinking about her. The night she disappeared, she came to my bed and told me that everything she had done, had been to protect me and that no matter how things might seem to change, I could never forget who I was. Those were her last words to me. I was too drowsy to answer, which I pity today. Father has never told me what really happened...'

Zuko told me for a long time about her. To my shame, I fell asleep.

'Katara?' It was mom. I still recognized her soft voice, after all these years.

'Yes?' I answered, busy blinking. It was dark, and I couldn't see anything or anyone. It felt like my eyes were close, but the fact I could still blink, rejected that.

'Save my son, then we'll save you.' This time, it wasn't my mom speaking, but Zuko's. I recognized her voice from my last dream.

'What do you mean? How can I save him?' I asked confused.

'You'll see. Just be brave.'

The words echoed in my head, and everything got even darker than it already had been before.

As I opened my eyes, I looked in the golden eyes of the prince of the Fire Nation. I realized I was laying with my head on his lap and immediately pushed myself away, landed with my hands on a hard, cold stone and fell with my face in the sand. The blood streamed to my cheeks. 'Good morning,' I mumbled.

Zuko restrained a grin. 'Are you okay?'

I nodded slightly grumpy. 'Yes, I'm just not used to see you when I wake up. Most of the time you're chasing or you just disappeared. And that stone must have been what made me scream last night. Anyway, did I really fell asleep on you?'

Zuko avoided my stare and got to his feet. 'Yes.'

I raised an eyebrow. 'I thought I fell asleep on your shoulder.'

Zuko sighed. 'And I thought you would be more comfortable when lying on my knees.'

This time it was me who tried not to grin. 'Thanks, I slept very well, indeed.' Then I remembered our subject of last night. 'Sorry for falling asleep while you were talking about your mother.'

'It's okay. But now it's your turn to tell me something.' Zuko smiled deliberately as he saw my curious gaze and seated himself next to me again. 'Why did you leave Aang?'

I didn't know what I had to worry about the most: Zuko called Aang by his name, or my answer.

'You don't have to tell me, but I just thought…'

'It's okay,' I interrupted him, 'you told me your story, I'll tell you mine.' I watched the upcoming sun above the ocean. 'Shouldn't we find a way cross the water first?'

Zuko shook his head. 'That can wait. Azula is not that fast. You're not the only one who has been craving for answers lately.'

I breathed slowly in and out to calm down. 'The day before you and that woman found me, Aang had kissed me. Out of nothing. He just… kissed me.' I stopped as I saw Zuko was busy grinning. 'What is so funny about that?'

'Was it such a bad kiss you left?'

I gave him an angry look. 'No. And it's none of your business. Anyway, I was angry, but tried not to show it. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, since it was clear he was in love with me, and I was not in love with him. We didn't talk about it, and I avoided Aang as much as I could. The next evening, I went to a lake to have some privacy so I could think over things. I had been there for quite a long time already, when I decided to pretend like I felt the same for Aang so he knew he had someone behind him who loved him as he would fight the Fire Lord, but then I saw them. Aang and Toph were walking on the other side of the river and sat down. I wanted to let them know I was there, but it seemed like the spirit of my body had flown away with the wind and I couldn't move or say anything. I just stood there, watching Aang blowing away the water so Toph could sit dryly. Then they talked. In the beginning they were laughing, but in the end the atmosphere didn't seem to be happy at all. They talked so long that my legs trembled and my feet hurt. Eventually Toph began to cry, and Aang hugged her. He hugged her, she kissed him, and he kissed her back. I was peevish and ran away after I had told Sokka I was sick of being the little help of the Avatar.'

Zuko after a little silence asked the question I couldn't answer myself. 'Do you regret it?'

I eventually shook my head. 'I do regret leaving Sokka behind, but somehow I still don't look forward to join them again.'

'But if you don't love him, then why are you angry about Toph kissing Aang?' Zuko asked hesitatingly.

I shrugged. 'Even if I didn't love him, I was willing to make him think I was. I thought I could maybe learn to love him. And it's also because of it feels like he has betrayed me. He kisses me first, but when it turns out I'm not as like he had expected, he just forgets me and goes for Toph.'

'I don't think that's how he meant it,' Zuko said quietly.

'I know. He's a really nice guy, but still I feel used,' I said, 'If you really really were in love with me, then would you be able to let me go the next day and love someone else?'

I didn't believe my own eyes, but I actually thought to see a little blush on Zuko's cheeks. 'No, but…'

I didn't got to hear his answer, since there was a little cough. We both turned our heads, and could see Azula evilly grinning. Next to her were Mai and Ty Lee. Mai looked, as usual, a bit bored and petulant. Ty Lee smiled at a point behind us. I turned my head again to see what it was, and now saw we were surrounded by three muscled men, all three bending a huge ball of water towards us.

AN: Cliffhangerrr! I promise next chapter won't take long! So at last the question is answered: why did Katara leave the Gaang.