The following day is the Fire Nation Ball. Various servants are so busy making sure the palace and I are perfect, so I don't get to see Katara before the ball. I think about her all day, though. I remember how beautiful she looked in her Fire Nation disguise. She may be Water Tribe, but she's a convincing Fire Nation.

When I stand above the crowd to welcome all the guests, I scan the room for Katara. When I finally find her, my jaw nearly drops. I manage to finish my speech without incident, though. Everyone applauds and I find my seat to watch the crowd for a couple of dances. Katara's been claimed by several suitors and I try to brush away a pang of jealousy. She looks incredible; her red dress hugs her figure tastefully and the white lotus barrette pulls some of her hair out of her eyes. The easy way her body flows with the music is mesmerizing. Fire Nation women don't even come close to having that kind of grace.

We both dance with other people until I can't take it anymore. I want to hold her again. "May I have this dance?" I ask, politely cutting in between Katara and her partner.

He bows and I take her in my arms. "You look amazing."

She responds in kind and I allow my hands to roam to the small of her back, though my body wants more. Her arms are around my neck; her hair is falling over her shoulders. I brush a strand of hair off her shoulders, my finger running over her scar. Instantly, I feel a pang of sadness.

"Don't," she says softly. "It's not important."

I hold her closer, allowing my feelings to wash over me. This feels so right. It's time to tell her how I feel about her. Right now. "Katara," I begin, then freeze. Her beautiful eyes meet mine and I'm not sure how to continue.

She looks at me expectantly. "Yes?"

I fumble over my words, trying to force something out. Come on, Zuko. Just say it. "The ball's nice."

Wow. That couldn't have been a stupider thing to say.

"Yes, it is," she agrees, smiling.

I'm saved from saying anything else by the end of the song. Time to start saying good-bye to my guests. When I look for Katara afterwards, she's gone. Good job, Zuko. Way to go.

"Good morning!" Katara says brightly when I join her for training the next morning.

"Good morning," I reply. "I thought you might be bending fire instead of water today."

She laughs. "I looked that convincing?"

"Definitely."

We take our stances, fighting for practice rather than glory. We never back down, though, even when it isn't serious. Katara takes a burn on the arm and I take a nasty ice scratch on my chest. She sits next to me and bends water onto my wound once we finish, her hands working quickly and skillfully. As always, her touch both relaxes and excites me.

Katara is staying late at the shop tonight to help Uncle's accountant go over the books, so I probably won't see her until tomorrow. I spend the rest of the day looking through my sketchbook and thinking about her. I need to find a way to tell her how I feel. Finally, I just start writing.

There was once a banished prince and a beautiful waterbender brought together by a common cause. The banished prince sought to destroy the Avatar and restore his honor; the beautiful waterbender swore to protect the Avatar and restore peace to the world.

They met for several battles and the beautiful waterbender defeated the banished prince at the North Pole. The banished prince was angry, but he was also intrigued. Nobody had ever defeated him before. They met again in prison at Ba Sing Se, and the banished prince learned that the beautiful waterbender was just as kind as she was beautiful. He claimed he wanted to change and she offered to heal his scar so he could start anew. They were interrupted before they could, however, and the banished prince ended up joining his evil sister against the beautiful waterbender and the Avatar.

His betrayal haunted him the entire time he was in the Fire Nation, so he finally left to join the Avatar and defeat the Firelord. The beautiful waterbender had a long memory, though, and refused to accept him until much later. Once she did accept him, however, they became close and saved each other's lives more than once. By the time the war ended and the banished prince became the new Firelord, he had fallen in love with the beautiful waterbender. He even asked her to stay in the Fire Nation and be on his council so he wouldn't have to say good-bye.

Unfortunately, the new Firelord was too afraid to reveal his feelings and the beautiful waterbender found another man. She's no longer with the other man, but the new Firelord is still afraid. The beautiful waterbender is not only the only girl he's ever loved; she is also his best friend. If she doesn't return his feelings, he doesn't want to lose her. But he does love her…

I put my brush down and sigh, not sure how to continue. I finally get up and go to play Pi Shou with Uncle. I don't want to think about Katara right now.

The next evening, I open my notebook again. There's more writing now and it's not mine. It's Katara's.

There was once a beautiful waterbender who fell in love with a banished prince. She didn't tell him at first because the war was more important. Then she didn't tell him because he was the new Firelord and that was more important too. By the time the beautiful waterbender could share her feelings, the new Firelord told her there was no woman he wanted. So she began dating another man in hopes of making him jealous, but the plan backfired when he began dating other women.

The beautiful waterbender knows she isn't on the same level as the new Firelord, especially because she isn't a firebender or even from the Fire Nation. She's simply the only Southern Water Tribe waterbender left, one of the people who helped the Avatar, and the Fire Nation foreign ambassador. She wishes she could stop loving him, but she can't…

My thoughts are racing. She loves me too. Katara loves me too. Oh my gosh. I jump from my chair and rush into her room. She's not there. So I sprint up the hill toward my mother's garden, stopping at the top to catch my breath.

"I'm sorry I looked through your sketchbook," Katara says without turning around. "Your drawings are incredible."

"I have incredible inspiration," I reply, walking over to the fountain and running my hand through the water.

"Thank you."

We're silent for a few moments, the only sounds from the fountain and the wildlife. It's peaceful, but the urge to be closer is overwhelming. I wonder if she feels the same way.

"You fell in love with me?" Her voice is small, quiet.

"Yes, I did."

She doesn't speak, so I kneel in front of her and take her hand. "I wanted to tell you so badly, but I was so afraid. I didn't want to ruin how close we are. I don't think you realize how much I need you."

She smiles and I begin to lose myself in her eyes. "I didn't think I was good enough for you," she says.

"You're the only one who is good enough for me."

"Really?"

I nod, reaching up to cup her cheek. "Can I kiss you?"

"Yes."

I close the distance between us, my heart pounding when our lips meet. This was so worth waiting for. I can't believe how amazing this feels.

"I love you," she whispers against my lips.

My breath catches. "I love you too. So much."

I hold her close, her breath hot on my neck, her body pressed against mine. I don't ever want to let her go.