Authors note: Stories getting good, I hope. This chapter will center all on Zuko and Katara. Now hold up, don't put up the Zutara flags yet. Read and find out why…

Chapter Twenty-One

The Past

"Katara!" Sokka called from the downstairs.

"What?" she answered from her window seat.

"Dad's gone."

"Yeah, I know."

"He said he'll be back in a few hours, told me not to worry. Are you?"

"I'm not worrying…"

"Are you alright, Kay?"

"No."

"Hmm…me neither."

Sokka's words drifted off into nothing as he walked out of the house. A loud slam came as it closed just as Katara sighed. She shifted a little bit on her seat before looking back at the dreary outside.

It was the day. The day it all happened. One minute it was a family of four and the next…

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"MOMMY, tell Sokka to stop it!"

"I'm not doing anything Kay."

"My name is Kot-Kia-"

"See, you don't even know your name."

"I do too!"

"Alright kids, that's enough."

Hokada gave a playful smile to both of his children. He then looked up at his wife who smiled also.

"Are we ready for the picnic?" she happily questioned.

"Yes!" both Sokka and Katara said in union.

"Alright then, let's go!"

"Yay!" came another scream.

"Okay. Hey Hokada?"

"Yeah Hun?"

"Can you get Katara's shoes on right? She's has them on the wrong feet. And Sokka's shirt is backwards. The kids obviously dressed themselves today. I'm going to put the last few things in the car

"Sure."

"Thanks."

Katara gave a grin to her mom as she walked out of the house and to the car. Little did she know that would the last smile her mother would ever see.

BANG!

"Daddy, what was that?!" Sokka asked.

"I don't know. Stay with your sister, I'm going outside."

Hokada ran out the door, leaving two fright stricken children inside.

"Is everything okay, Sokka?"

"I don't know Katara!"

"I want to see Mommy!"

"You can't', daddy said to stay here."

"I want to see Mommy!"

Katara broke free of her brother's grip and bolted outside. She glanced around the yard but saw no one. It was until she looked into the street. For there, lying on it, was her mother. Blood, dripping down her face as if had killed her itself. Katara looked over and saw her dad crying as he pulled the crumpled woman into his arms.

"MOMMY!"

But there was no answer, for no answer could be said.

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"Mom…where did you go…"

Katara fell into distressed tears just a raindrop hit her window. She didn't want them to come like they had last year and the year before but there was no way of preventing them. Just like rain they had come down and they wouldn't stop.

"Why-why would anyone kill you?!" she cried out loudly, not caring if anyone heard her or not, "They took you away from me!"

Katara stopped suddenly, not even wanting to scream. Nothing could heal a broken heart.

"I miss you, mom, so much…."

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"So Zuko how was school today?"

"Uncle, its Sunday."

"Well then, how's school in general?"

"Okay, I guess…"

Zuko, as he stirred his stew around, knew he would not even mention Katara or that she had a date to the prom to his uncle.

"I'm not that hungry," he concluded, as he stood up.

"But-"

"It's not the food, it's me."

"Okay then."

Zuko disappeared from Uncle Iroh to the upstairs. He knew his uncle knew what was going on and he didn't care. He knew it would have to come and all too soon.

It was the day. The day it all happened. One's birthday can be so bitter…

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"So Zuko, what are you going to wish for?"

"I don't know, maybe a bike, I guess."

"Come on, silly. You're supposed to wish for something big. Want me to tell you what I wished for on my last birthday?"

"You have to keep it a secret, Jin."

"I know but you're my best friend. You can keep it a secret for me, right?"

"Alright, fine."

Jin giggled and then inched up to Zuko's ear.

"I wished that my brother could get out of prison."

Zuko gave a nod as she moved back, "That's a really nice wish. I know I could never do that good."

"I'm sure you could, you just have to believer or whatever. That's what my mom always says."

"Ok then, I'll believe."

"Great! Uh oh, Zuko we have to hurry. We'll be late for you're party."

"Let's go."

The two children ran cheerfully down the old neighbor hood, making it slowly to Zuko's house. But what they would see was nothing that could be called a Happy Birthday.

"Zuko, your house is on fire!"

The young boy looked up to actually see his house ablaze. Everything was burning, nothing to be saved. Zuko saw up on the second floor his bedroom go to ruins.

"My birthday…"

"Zuko!" Jin screamed as tears burst from her eyes.

Zuko held the young girl close, resisting his own tears. He looked around, noticing that a fire truck had just come up. Zuko grabbed Jin's hand and ran over to the fire men who had just come out.

"Excuse me but this is my house."

"I'm sorry son," the fireman said as he ran to the fire.

One fireman who was still in the truck went quickly over to the two children.

"You lived here?" he asked.

Zuko gave a slow nod, clutching Jin even tighter.

"Well I'm sorry to say that you're the man who watched you, your father I presume, he's gone."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"And my mother and sister?"

"You're sister is okay but your mother…I'm sorry…we haven't located her yet."

Zuko couldn't help but let the tears rush out. His grip on Jin broke and he fell to the ground in emotional pain. The fireman tried to assist him but nothing could help him now.

"Zuko…"

The boy looked up into the saddened face of Jin, tears still flowing down his face.

"You still have a birthday wish, don't ever forget that."

However the words only came in a blur to Zuko who gave one more look to the burning house. He looked from it to Jin and whispered out.

"I won't…"

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"And I haven't," he murmured, wiping the wetness from his face.

Zuko knew it was anniversary, the anniversary of his pain. It came so quick every year he didn't even know a single day it wasn't there.

"My fears, my hurting, my…blood. I will never forget it all. It will always be here…"

He slowly put his hand to his heart and cried.

"Taking the place of you!"

Zuko gradually died down, wiping his eyes again. He then looked into his opposing window and frowned. For there crying on her window seat was Katara, holding just as much pain. For who knew of the past.

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Author note: All I can say is….hard to write…