So one of the things I had planned on before this turned into a long story with an actual plot was a random beach episode. This is basically what that idea turned into. This is largely self-indulgent (more so than the fic has been so far, heh) and goofy while also giving our two oblivious leads a chance to be less oblivious.


Katara sat in her bathtub, hoping the hot water would ease some of her tension. Since the incident with the flowers, rodents from the kitchen traps kept popping up in Katara's bed. First they were on top of the bedspread. Then they were on her pillow. Last night they'd shown up under her pillow.

It was obvious that they'd been taken from the kitchen traps, which was comforting only in that it meant that whoever this mystery attacker was, they hadn't killed the animals themselves. Iroh had tried to assure her that it was unlikely that attacker would physically harm Katara if they couldn't bring themselves to kill an elephant rat. Unfortunately she wasn't as sure.

Just like with the flowers, the dead elephant rats were left with no hint as to who did it. No footprints, scraps of cloth, or specks of dirt or mud. Nothing. They were just as clueless now as they were when they'd hatched this crazy plan six weeks ago.

Scrunching her eyes closed, Katara dunked her head under the water as she tried to ignore the pang of hurt that coursed through her. When she had agreed to the plan they assumed that they would find the culprit quickly. Back then there had been no chance of her actually falling for Zuko. The very thought was ridiculous!

But that was before. Before she watched him tend to his people when they needed him. Before she watched him stand up for an Earth Kingdom servant to her nobility. Before she started taking tea with him in the afternoon and helping him work through his problems or listening to his struggles. Before they started feeding the turtle-ducks after dinner and sharing their hopes and dreams for the future.

Before they started acting like an actual couple.

She supposed that Zuko still viewed her as a friend. After the war he'd counted on her honesty to keep him grounded and from getting too big for his boots. Likewise whenever she felt like their struggle to maintain peace was pointless, he'd help her see all the good that they had accomplished. They were friends and that was all they were supposed to be.

Surfacing, Katara took a deep breath and shook her head. It wouldn't do to act like a moonstruck idiot around Zuko. She needed to be sharp, aware of her surroundings. Even though she'd never been directly attacked that could change.

With a glance at her pruned fingers, Katara sighed and got out of the bath. She bent the excess water from her body and her hair, grabbing the soft silk robe from where it hung from a decorative hook in the shape of a phoenix on the wall. She'd only just tied it when she realized she wasn't alone in her room.

Zuko was poking about her bed. If she didn't know that he was probably there to see if any more dead elephant rats had turned up, she'd probably be offended. Probably.

"Find anything?" she asked, not even attempting to smother her smirk when he jumped in surprise.

"Uh, no," he said as he straightened and turned to face her. Then his shoulders sagged. "Sorry, I don't want to intrude or anything but I wondered if maybe you had a visitor while you were in the bath."

"I did," she said with a pointed look, but he rolled his eyes. "It was quiet. Admittedly, so were you. I didn't realize you were in here and it's probably a good a good thing you were so absorbed in checking my bed for dead rodents because I hadn't fully tied my robe closed when I walked in here."

Heat raced through Zuko's face. "Oh…I…uh…"

"Forget it. It's too late now and it's not like you saw anything."

"Yes, well, still." He bowed. "I apologize for intruding in your private space. Even if I was only thinking of your best interests, it seems I may have acted contrary to them."

"It's fine," Katara sighed, almost wishing that Zuko had seen her and done something.

"Anyway, I should go. Sleep well," Zuko said as he moved away from her bed. He hesitated for a moment in the doorway before he gave a small shake of his head and left.

The next morning Katara wasn't fully invested in the conversation. Kiyi babbled about going for rides on Appa and playing with Momo, Aang talked about some of the things he'd done before he'd been frozen in an iceberg for one hundred years, and Katara and Zuko could barely look at each other.

Iroh, sharp as ever, knew something had to change. If that change wasn't going to happen in the palace, perhaps it was time to send them elsewhere.

"With the Summer Solstice rapidly approaching, perhaps it's time for you to take some time off. Most everyone else has fled the city, you should do the same," Iroh said as he pinned his nephew with an intense stare once the conversation around the table had slowed.

"I don't…" Zuko started to argue but Iroh held his hand up.

"No buts, Zuko," he said firmly. "You're looking very worn down and the heat is about to peak here in the capital. Escape to Ember Island for a week with your friends and take some vacation time. It will do you all some good."

"But what about-"

"Like I said," Iroh said, tone brooking no room for argument, "escape to Ember Island for a week. Regroup and come back in time for the Summer Solstice Festival." He cleared his throat. "Which reminds me, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Kiyi, it's time for your lessons," Ursa reminded her youngest, sensing that whatever it was that Iroh was about to say, it wasn't suitable for her. "Run along and try not to antagonize your tutors."

"Yes Mama," Kiyi said, even as she pouted. She knew something was up, beyond Zuko obviously being in love with Master Katara and vice versa, but the adults were determined to keep her out of it. Aang had saved the world when he was her age, and she thought it unfair that she was continually treated as a child. Little did she know that Zuko, her parents, and Zuko's friends were fighting tooth and nail to make sure that Kiyi's childhood lasted longer than any of theirs had.

When Kiyi was long gone, Iroh settled his gaze on Zuko, who'd been starting at his breakfast most of the morning. "As we all know, we're no closer to determining the identity of the mystery attacker now than when we started this endeavor six weeks ago. The Summer Solstice is coming up and that has always been the most auspicious of occasions for the Fire Nation. Perhaps it's time we up the stakes."

"How do we do that?" Toph asked. "The person strikes whenever we're not around. They're deliberately avoiding us."

"As I said, we up the stakes. Katara's remained by Zuko's side regardless of this person's actions," Iroh said. "So now we show how serious she is. During the Summer Solstice Festival we announce Katara and Zuko's engagement. Courting is one thing, but engagements are much more serious. It may cause our mystery attacker to up their game, and hopefully make a mistake."

"So what? The trip to Ember Island is for him to propose?" Toph asked, cocking her head.

"Well, it is a very romantic location," Iroh answered with a shrug and a sly smile. "Certainly it would lend some credibility to the story."

"What story?" Sokka snickered. "That Zuko got so caught up by a beautiful sunset that he just up and proposes to Katara?"

"Yeah, Sparky's not that smooth," Toph added with a grin.

"It does not matter what actually happens, just what the people believe happens," Iroh said, fully enjoying his nephew's discomfort. "All the populace needs to know is that Zuko proposed on Ember Island. The details they'll make up on their own. Besides, what does it matter if the engagement isn't real? We only need to give the illusion of plausibility."

"A week in Ember Island does sound pretty nice," Ty Lee said with a wistful sigh.

"Sand, surf, and cold tropical drinks?" Sokka asked. "Count me in."

Iroh clapped his hands together. "Excellent! I shall make the arrangements at once."

Zuko groaned.

Still, when the time came, he was aboard his small yacht headed towards the island with his friends, Aang flying nearby on Appa with Toph and Ty Lee in tow. Suki and Sokka were seated near the prow of the ship, enjoying the sea spray and chattering about their plans once they arrived at the royal vacation home. Zuko was lingering over the stern and wondering just how he was going to spend his time in Ember Island. His uncle had assured him that he would act as regent as a week so Zuko could take some much needed time off, and then shooed him on his way.

"There you are!"

Startled, Zuko spun around, flame engulfing one of his fists before he realized that it was Katara and not some assassin. She raised an eyebrow at him but did nothing more than cross her arms against her chest and stare at him.

"Sorry, habit," he sighed as he doused the flames. "Turns out being unpopular means people are constantly trying to kill you."

"You're not that unpopular," Katara soothed as she came to stand next to him.

"Well not anymore, but the first few years of my reign were exhausting," he said with a frown. "I think I've actually lost count of all the attempts on my life."

"I'm sorry you had to deal with it."

"Just part of my job," he answered. "It's better now, but there are still some people who think things would be better how they were before so I'm still jumping at shadows."

"Well lucky for us they're old and will probably die soon," Katara said so nonchalantly that Zuko's jaw dropped. Noting his expression she shook her head. "Sorry, that was harsh. It's just…these guys are relics of an age gone by and instead of accepting that things have changed they're stuck in the past and refusing to move on. But as I said, they're also all old geezers who probably benefited from the war and are upset that they're no longer raking in money from death and destruction and when they die the world can finally start moving on."

"I suppose you're right," he said as turned his gaze back out to the ocean. "They fight me at every turn over things that are insignificant because if it annoys me, it's a victory for them."

"Sounds like your uncle was right, a vacation will do you some good."

"I guess so," Zuko shrugged. "You know, I think this is the first time that all of us have been back to the beach house at the same time since the war ended?"

Katara's brow furrowed, but then she remembered that while she and Aang had once accompanied Zuko to the beach house to force him to take a little time off for the sake of his health, Sokka, Suki, and Toph had been absent. "You're right."

"A lot has changed," he said softly.

Leaning against the yacht's railing Katara nodded. "Yeah. I'd say the biggest is that we're not kids anymore."

"Were we ever?" Zuko asked. Katara glanced up at him and saw the distant look in his eyes as he gazed out at the water. "I was raised to take over a war my ancestors started. You and Sokka lived in constant fear of Fire Nation raids. Toph and Aang hadn't even hit puberty when they were thrown into the war. When did we have time to just be kids? We were robbed of our childhoods."

"I'm not going to argue with you," she agreed. "Aang and Toph were perhaps better sheltered. They at least had those twelve years before they were in the center of the war and in a lot of ways their immaturity compared to the rest of us was telling. But when my mother died my childhood ended. Sokka's childhood ended. And even before then we never truly knew freedom or peace. There was always fear of the black snow and what it would bring."

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault, Zuko."

"I know, but I'm related to those who were responsible."

Katara shook her head. "It's not your duty to carry the sins of your forefathers. You're doing everything in your power to make sure that the peace we all fought for is maintained. You're making sure that their harmful legacy will be erased. You don't have to weigh yourself down with guilt for crimes you didn't commit. You were a child, Zuko. There was nothing you could have done."

Without thinking Zuko's hand drifted up, his fingers lightly brushing against the lower edge of his scar. The mark of his one attempt to stop his father's cruel actions. He'd been a child, with no power, who'd tried to do something he'd been woefully unprepared for. It wasn't until he was standing on the brink of adulthood that he'd finally been able to embrace his destiny and stop his country from losing its honor completely.

"I suppose," he said softly.

"Yeesh, Uncle was right. You really do need a vacation."

He cocked his head as he studied her, standing next to him with her hands on her hips and her face drawn in a critical frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that working yourself to death isn't going to make things better," she answered. "We've got a week to sit back and do absolutely nothing and I for one will be making sure that you stay away from anything work related until we have to go back."

Content that Zuko would follow her directions, Katara nodded and then headed towards the prow of the ship to talk to Suki and her brother. Zuko remained at the stern, contemplating if he would be sufficiently distracted during the trip to not think about everything that was surely piling up on his desk back in the capital.

The welcome at the beach house was warm, and instead of dusty drop cloths and stale rooms, they found freshly polished furniture and windows thrown open to allow the warm sea breeze to circulate through the house.

"So much better than the last time we were here," Suki commented with a soft sigh as she settled onto a settee in the main sitting room.

"There have been some changes, though, and not just the layer of dust having gone away," Sokka said as he walked around the room. "Did you redecorate?"

"Much like with the palace, there was a sense of out with the old and in with the new. The only people who have seen it since I refurbished the place are Katara and Aang, and that's because several years ago they forcibly dragged me on vacation." He gave them both a glare. "On my uncle's orders, no doubt."

"We have no regrets about that," Katara answered with a defiant tilt of her chin.

Recalling their earlier conversation about him working himself to death Zuko shrugged. "Anyway, we're free to do whatever we want while we're here. There are markets, temples, beaches, places where you can walk through the rainforests, and basically anything else you can possibly imagine."

Imaginations stoked, they started planning out how they were going to spend their days.

Walking through Ember Island's largest town brought on a lively debate over ice cream or soft cream, mostly from Katara and Zuko who each insisted that they were one hundred percent right and only stopped arguing after Toph threatened to dump them into a pit and leave them there. They spent quality time hanging out on the various beaches, playing games on the sand and in the surf. At one point Zuko even led them on a hike up to a view point where most of Ember Island was at their feet to watch the sunset. For the first time in a while Zuko actually managed to relax and have fun, though he'd never admit as much to his uncle if asked.

By the time their final night on the island rolled around, the group was happy and relaxed. There'd been no threats against Katara, Zuko was looking better overall, and there was a renewed sense of purpose with the group. They'd find out who was behind the pranks to scare off Zuko's bridal candidates, and then continue on with their lives.

"So, any big plans for tonight?" Zuko asked as dinner was winding down.

"Ty Lee was telling me and Suki about the night market tonight, so we're gonna go check it out," Sokka answered with a grin.

Suki nodded in agreement. "I wanted to pick up some small souvenirs for the other girls, and Ty Lee said the night market was good for that."

"Oh, of course," Zuko nodded. "Toph?"

"Twinkle Toes and I are going to the arcade," she answered with a grin.

"Well, I hate to burst your bubble but you're not going to be able to cheat to win prizes," Zuko informed her. "Almost all of the games are made of out wood."

"Aw crud," Toph grumbled.

"It'll still be fun," Aang said as he prodded her in the shoulder. "I'll win you something."

"I'm holding you to that," she muttered.

"Well I'm staying in tonight," Katara said. "Since it's a full moon, I thought I'd go down to the private beach and waterbend for a bit."

Aang perked up. "That sounds like a lot of fun!"

Katara nodded. "It's been a while since I've been able to just bend. The arena at the palace is okay, but the limited water isn't as satisfying to work with."

"You know, I could probably use some refreshing on my waterbending…" Aang mused, clearly angling to spending some alone with her.

"I'm sorry, have I suddenly become komodo-rhino droppings or something?" Toph said with a scowl. "You said you were taking me to the arcade. Sparky said most of the games are made of wood, my seismic sense is useless there!"

"But you do so well on your own…"

"Aang, it's dishonorable to break your promises like that," Zuko chastised. "Besides, Katara specifically said she wanted to be alone. We've been on top of each other all week; I can't say that I blame her."

"Well what about you?" Aang asked with a frown. "Are you going out?"

"No, I'm staying in tonight as well," Zuko answered, quickly holding a hand up to silence Aang who was about to butt in. "However I'll be in my office, here in the house, going over the various memos and documents my uncle sent me the other day. I need to know what's going on before we go back to the capital tomorrow. I'm going to be working the entire time, so Katara will get her alone time on the beach."

It was obvious that Aang was pacified but generally unhappy. After all, Zuko and Katara were going to be alone at the house after everyone else left for the evening. Aang had hoped that he could spend some time with Katara and convince her that they were meant to be together, but the entire time they were on Ember Island nobody had been able to snag much time alone. If it wouldn't be incredibly rude to ditch Toph, Aang would have stayed behind to be with Katara, but given the way her expression darkened when he'd hinted that he wanted to perhaps it was better for him to keep his promise to Toph.

As the house cleared out after dinner, Katara let out a soft sigh. The buzz of night time insects filled the air and gave her a sense of peace.

"Enjoy your time on the beach," Zuko said as he stretched his arms out. "I have a mountain of paperwork to get through."

She smirked at him. "Surely it's not that bad. You can enjoy yourself as well."

"Only if I set fire to the pile," Zuko answered. "By the way, you can build a bonfire if you get cold. Everything you need, including spark rocks, is already down there."

"Great," she said with a smile. "Now try not to have too much fun with all that paperwork…"

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled as he headed towards his office.

Truth be told there wasn't that much to do. Things in the capital were quiet and very little actual law making was going on. Most of the missives his uncle had sent pertained to the Summer Solstice Celebration and simply needed Zuko's approval before the plans could move forward. Once he'd gone through every last memo his uncle had sent, Zuko stood and stretched, drifting towards the window. He could see Katara sitting on the beach, watching the waves roll in.

Perhaps it was impulsiveness on his part, but he made his way down to the beach and Katara's side.

"All done playing with your magic water?" he asked as he sat down next to her.

Glancing at him from the corner of her eye, she snorted. "I should freeze you in an iceberg for that."

"Mmm, wouldn't work, you know that," he answered with a cheeky smile.

"Are you done with your paperwork, or merely taking a break?"

"Done. Most of it was asking what color the lanterns should be and what foods will be served when and what kind of music do I want for the palace celebration?" He groaned as he dropped his head in his hands. "All decisions that Uncle made, by the way, but needs me to officially sign off on."

"Not big on the party planning, huh?"

"Mom's been great for that, actually, but as the regent Uncle was to sign off on this. Uncle, in his usual way, quickly found a way to pass it off to me."

Katara chuckled as she reached over and patted his back. "Poor baby. But at least now it's done and you can spend the rest of the evening relaxing."

"That definitely sounds nice," he sighed. "What about you? Get your bending in?"

Grinning broadly, Katara flopped back in the sand which was still warm from the sun. "I did. It was so freeing! I can't remember the last time I could just bend without someone watching. I didn't have to worry about forms or how much or how little power I put into the movements. I could just do it."

"Sounds nice," Zuko said as he lay down next to her.

"Not something you can do, is it?" she asked with a frown.

"Not unless I'm completely surrounded by stone," he answered. "To be able to just let go with my bending would be great, but I'd probably have to go out to the middle of nowhere to do it. Not exactly something I can easily do."

"I suppose not," Katara conceded. A mischievous grin spread across her face. "We should spar."

"Don't wanna," Zuko answered, allowing his eyes to slide closed. The chirping of the crickets and the sound of the waves breaking on the shore was relaxing. The last thing he wanted to do was get up and spar.

Nudging him with her foot, she continued to wheedle. "Please? It's been so long since we've sparred!"

"It's been three weeks," Zuko reminded her. "We can spar when we get back to the palace. For now I just want to lie here on the warm sand, listening to the bugs and the surf."

"Oh fine," she said with a pout. To be fair, Zuko had a point. She'd been doing just that after she finished bending. At first she thought she'd be annoyed if someone trespassed on her solitude, and she supposed that if it had been anyone but Zuko she would have been. "This is nice."

Rolling on to his side, Zuko smiled at her. "Yeah, it is."

"Are you ready to go back to the capital?"

"I suppose. I'm caught back up and I know I need to get back to work, but it's been nice to spend the last week doing nothing more than wondering what to do next."

Katara couldn't help the smug grin that stretched across her face, causing Zuko to roll his eyes. However her gloating mood was ruined when she shivered violently.

"Why didn't you build a fire?" Zuko asked as he scooted closer to Katara and wrapped her up in his arms.

"I was so warm when I was done that I didn't think I needed it. I guess we've been out here for a while."

Zuko hummed as he settled her against his side, leaning his cheek against the crown of her head.

"You're so warm," she mumbled as she snuggled against him.

"What?"

Tilting her head up so she could look him in the eye, she repeated herself. "You're so warm."

"Oh," Zuko breathed. There was something in her eyes; something that made his stomach flip and his heart skip a beat. There wasn't anyone around to impress, nobody that they had to play their relationship up for. He could lean down and kiss her right now and tell her how he felt and propose for real. He could…

"Hey, there you are!"

Sokka's voice broke the moment and both Katara and Zuko got to their feet, brushing the sand from their clothes. He was approaching them with Suki and Ty Lee at his heels, a couple of bags in hand. "Did you two have a nice evening?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah, it was nice to just let loose with my bending," Katara said with a nod.

"All caught up on the missives Uncle sent," Zuko said when Sokka turned his attention to him.

"Nice. I snagged some stuff for Dad and Gran Gran for whenever we're back in the South Pole, as well as some new tunics and a new belt…"

"You may want to seek help for that shopping addiction of yours," Katara teased as she poked her brother in the side.

Looking between Katara and Zuko, Sokka frowned. "It's not a problem. I can stop any time I want to."

Zuko rolled his eyes. "Sure you can."

Narrowing his gaze at them, Sokka tried to stare them into submission but they were distracted. Come to think of it, they had been lying together in sand, looking pretty cozy. It would be easy to say that Katara felt cold and Zuko was warming her up, but something as inane as that wouldn't have them both blushing like crazy.

Suddenly the completely innocent solution he'd proposed wasn't so innocent anymore.

"I think it's bed time," Suki said as she grabbed Sokka's elbow and started tugging him towards the house. "Early start tomorrow, after all."

"Uh, right," Zuko said with a small frown.

Ty Lee grinned brightly, almost too brightly. "Suki's right. Gotta get that beauty rest in so my aura's at its best tomorrow! Night!"

"That was weird," Katara said as she shook her head.

"I stopped questioning Ty Lee years ago," Zuko said as he started to walk up to the house. "As for Sokka and Suki, who knows?"

"Fair enough," Katara sighed as she followed.

"Hey, what's up with Snoozles, Suki, and Ty Lee?" Toph asked as she and Aang met up with Katara and Zuko at the door.

"Bed time," Zuko answered.

"Ick, sorry I asked," Toph said pulling a face.

"So, did you have fun at the arcade?" Katara asked, looking between Toph and Aang.

"Yeah, it was fun. I won Toph a plush fire ferret," Aang said, and Toph indicated to the plush toy draped over her shoulders.

"They said he's filled with rice and can be warmed and used as a heat pack," Toph said as she patted its head. "Seems like a good way to deal with sore muscles."

"Sounds like," Zuko agreed. "Well, despite the oddness, the others are right in that it's late and we should get to bed. Any grumps on my ship are thrown overboard."

Katara snorted. "Are you planning on jumping in with them?"

That earned her a headlock and Zuko ruffling her hair. "You're going overboard first."

"I'll take you with me."

"I'd like to see you try."

"Well," Toph said, cutting them off with an exaggerated yawn, "it's late. C'mon Twinkle Toes, bed time."

"Uh, sure," Aang said as he gave Katara and Zuko, still engaged in the headlock, a suspicious look. "Night guys."

"Night Aang, night Toph," Katara said, awkwardly waving. Once they were along she struggled futilely for a few moments before she slumped in defeat. "Okay, you can let me go now."

"Are you going to keep that tongue of yours in check, peasant?"

For approximately half a second Katara was prepared to retort with a crack about showing him what her tongue could do unchecked, but thought better of it. "For the time being."

Releasing her, Zuko sighed. "I guess that's the best I can get out of you."

Katara elbowed him as she righted herself, and then grinned. "Oops."

"Uh-huh," Zuko mumbled as he rubbed the now sore spot on his torso. "Good night, Katara."

"Night Zuko." She flashed him a tentative smile and then darted in the direction of her room, leaving Zuko standing bewildered in the foyer. In the safety of her bedroom she let out a sigh and slumped against the door. "Stupid, stupid, stupid..."

Fire Lords didn't fall for peasants from the Southern Water Tribe. He was her friend, someone she admired and trusted, and she was not in the habit of jumping men who didn't want those attentions from her.

"Just get over him already," she muttered as she started to get ready for bed. Turning to the wardrobe to get her pajamas, she paused. At first glance it looked like an irregular shadow on the wall, but as Katara grabbed a lamp and inched closer she realized that it was one of her tunics, pinned to the wall by a dagger.

"Well crap," she muttered as she carefully removed the dagger and the tunic from the wall. At least it wasn't one of her really nice ones. Whether that was a measure of decency from the mystery attacker or laziness she didn't know. It had been on top of the laundry pile this morning.

Holding it up against her body she examined her reflection in the mirror.

The hole from the dagger was right over her heart.


Sokka: Moment Killer!

And yes, things had to end on a kinda serious note because that's actually part of this damn thing's plot now.