I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender, or any of the name or characters of the show. I merely control them for my own twisted pleasure from this point in the story on.

Chapter 24: Confessions

It felt strange to wake up and look over at the Blue Spirit and see Prince Zuko's face. Katara wondered if he had felt the same way at first; waking up to see her face morning after morning and not knowing how she would react.

She'd dreamt the night before. She'd dreamt of peace and fire and two dolls that embraced forever. She knew it was only a matter of time before she had to face her brother and Aang. Toph wouldn't care much; the blind girl would probably laugh at her for making Sokka faint. The thought made her smile and a giggle escaped her lips.

It was hard to believe it had been less than a week since she and the others had been captured and imprisoned by General Sho. Less than a week, and as she looked over at Zuko again, she knew that in that week so much had changed and nothing would be the same.

The firebending prince wasn't far from her, maybe three or four feet away, sitting against a nearby tree because he'd lent her his bed roll again. He was asleep and she was thankful that she could finally tell this for certain. His face was peaceful when he slept, but as she watched his face grew hard, and she wondered what he was dreaming about.

Last night, before they'd gone to sleep, he had put away the mask. He'd smiled mysteriously when she frowned at it.

"I'll put it back on if you want."

Katara had shaken her head and he'd slipped the mask in her bag. She still didn't know if he'd been joking or not. She rolled over to gaze at him fully and noted that he looked good with short hair. She smiled when she imagined what it would look like in a few weeks, after it grew out a little more.

A warm feeling grew in her when she realized she'd be there to see it in a few weeks and she couldn't keep the smile from flashing across her face. But with the realization also came the depressing thought of telling her friends. Knowing Sokka, he'd never let Zuko join their group, let alone be with her.

She let the thought fade. She didn't know when she'd see her brother next, and worrying about what to say to him when that time came would only make her sad.

Suddenly, she wanted Zuko to hold her. She wanted to warp her arms around him and have him tell her that it would all be fine. She needed to hear him say it.

Getting up quietly as not to wake Iroh, she crawled over to Zuko and kissed him awake. He jumped at first but soon relaxed and smiled into their kiss. When she pulled back, he titled his head at her and a small grin crossed her face when she knew by the small gesture that he was slightly confused.

"Good morning," she whispered and he narrowed his eyes.

"What's going on?" he whispered back and she sighed softly.

"Would it be strange if I asked you if I could sit in your lap?"

"Kind of, but it mostly depends on why."

She didn't wait for his permission before moving his legs so she could settle herself between them. After adjusting so that she was sitting with her legs crossed and his knees surrounding her, she leaned into his warmth.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he put his chin on top of her head. She shrugged it off and he wrapped his arms around her. The warmth of the embrace increased steadily. She wondered if he knew he was firebending, and then wondered when she'd become unafraid of it.

Quiet suddenly, she wanted to practice her own bending. She hadn't done so in a day or two and that always made her feel like she'd missed out.

"Will you come practice with me?" she asked quietly and turned to look at him when he answered.

"Only if you promise not to freeze me into a giant ball like last time."

"That wasn't practice," she said half-angry. Their fight at the North Pole seemed like such a long time ago. It was almost like that Zuko was someone completely different than the one she was snuggled into

"Right," he said in a doubtful tone and Katara 'accidentally' elbowed him in the ribs when she moved to stand up.

Zuko suppressed the grunt of pain that Katara's elbow shot through him. He smiled at her and stood up. That ice ball trick had actually impressed him a lot, not that he'd admit it.

Ever.

He had just dusted himself off when movement caught his eye and Zuko turned to see his uncle sit up from his own bed roll. "Nephew?" his uncle said with a clear voice. "Up so early?"

Zuko nodded and Katara smiled brightly. "Morning!" she said with a friendly wave and Zuko winced. How in the world had he forgotten they were both morning people?

"Well, good morning to you too," this uncle said and stretched. When the old man grimaced, Zuko took a step towards him, worried.

"Uncle?" Zuko asked and headed over to the old man. "Are you alright?" Katara had already drawn some of the water from her flask and was right behind him as they walked over to the older man.

"I am fine," Iroh said and rubbed his lower back, shifting into a sitting position with his legs crossed. "I'm just a bit sore."

"Here," Katara said as she sat behind him. "Where does it hurt?" she asked as the water around her hands glowed blue. Zuko felt better almost immediately; if there was something wrong, Katara would fix it.

"Just around the middle here," his uncle said with a vague motion. "I think it is from sleeping on that hard floor the night before last." He looked at Zuko as the prince knelt beside him, "I am not as young as I used to be."

Zuko watched Katara work and suddenly knew that she would fit right in to their little family. She was compassion to his anger and sense to his uncle ridiculousness. He wanted reach out and hold her, but because his uncle was more important then his desire to do so, he just smiled at her.

"Zuko," his uncle said as soon as she was finished, drawing Zuko's attention back to the old man, "I wonder if you could go and find me a small plant called a forestlilly." He held up his hands and cupped them together, "It is a green and blue flower the size of a small bowl. It makes a wonderful healing brew."

"Now I know you're okay," Zuko scoffed as he stood up, fully intending to get his uncle anything the old man wanted. "You just asked me to find a plant to make tea out of, didn't you?"

His uncle's smile was all proof he needed. "Fine," he said and held out a hand to help Katara up.

She smiled at him and said, "I think I'll stay here and keep your uncle company. We'll go training when you get back."

Zuko's disappointment must have shown because she smiled apologetically. He sighed and nodded before walking off into the forest to find the stupid plant.

As Katara watched Zuko leave, she moved around the older man and sat down directly in front of him. "Okay," she said directly to the point. "Why did you fake a back ache to get me alone?"

No surprise showed on the general's face when he smiled sadly at her. "Thank you for not alerting my nephew to that fact. I've wanted to talk to you for a while. I have news of the Avatar."

Her heart lit with joy at the mention of her friends, but it also took a step back. Iroh had waited until she was alone to tell her that? But why wait until Zuko was out of ear shot?

"It seems your friends have been traveling around in a big circle since the day you were separated," his voice was cheerless and she narrows her eyes at him. "Hanae thinks this is because they had to leave you behind and are searching for you," he set his hands on his knees and sighed deeply. "Unfortunately, Hanae also thinks it is only a matter of time before they are caught. Their movements have become more predictable, and General Sho is catching up very quickly."

Katara's heart sank deep into her stomach. She was going to get them captured, and after what happened last time she doubted Sho would leave them as open to rescue as before He knew they had allies out there to try an escape. She looked back at Iroh, and guilt leaped into her throat.

This man had chosen to followed Zuko around the world, she'd seen that in almost everything he did for the prince. There was no order and no reason for the attachment except love. The things he must have done to stay by Zuko's side. He'd faced charges of treason at the North Pole by attacking his fellow soldiers, and even hunger and exhaustion to be with the young prince. The old man most likely didn't feel any guilt or pressure to stay with Zuko.

She knew because it was the same way for her and Aang.

She promised to follow him until he learned waterbending, but now she understood that she actually meant she'd stay with him until he saved the world. There had been times when she faced hunger and treats of death but she still stayed by his side, just like Iroh.

But Zuko was important to her too. There was something there with him that made her feel like she was the protected one instead of the protector.

She loved Aang as much as she loved her brother, and would gladly get in the way of anything thrown at him. She would protect him with her life because in the end, he was much more important than any of them and she wanted to protect him, because she loved him.

But she loved Zuko too.

Now she knew what Iroh had meant about facing her choice. Could she really abandon such an important mission just to suite her own selfish wishes? Could she leave Aang less protected than before? There'd been times where, even together, she and her brother hadn't been able to help him. Now that Toph was around that would change a great deal, she was sure, but they were her family now.

Iroh smiled sadly at her, as if he knew her internal struggle. She looked up at him and tried very hard not to cry. "Why are you saying this? Don't you want Zuko and I to be together?"

Iroh laughed unhappily and shook his head. "Of course I do; Zuko needs you as much as you need your friends. It would be very cruel to take you away."

When she thought he would go on, he stopped. She didn't understand what he was trying to say. Did he want her to leave Zuko alone? Suddenly, something clicked in her mind.

Zuko needed her as much as she needed her friends. It would be cruel to take her away.

It would be cruel of him to keep her from the others, because she knew as well as the old man that there would be no way for them to travel together. Zuko was still Prince Zuko, and she'd forgotten that for the short time she'd been here. She didn't even know if the prince was still after Aang. He'd said nothing about stopping his pursuit and she'd wondered if he thought she would be okay with it now.

"Why is he chasing Aang?" she asked quietly and saw the understanding in the old mans eyes.

"It is not my place to tell you."

"But you just-"

"I told you those things," Iroh interrupted, "because in your happiness, you seemed to have forgotten them." The statement made her think back on their earlier conversation about being an adult. Iroh was an adult, and his wisdom was not to be lightly cast aside, "If you so chose, I will not stop you from staying with Zuko. In fact, I hope you do because he's needs you now more than ever," he placed his head in his hands and Katara could see that the decision was hurting him.

"I think I understand." She said and he looked up at her again. "You think I made a rash choice in picking Zuko and you're worried it will hurt both of us." She did understand. She understood because she'd felt the same way before. But she'd made her choice, and wasn't going to change it.

He nodded and she placed a hand on one of his to comfort him. Before she could respond, however, a noise behind her alerted her to the fact that Zuko had come back. He was grumbling in frustration and covered in foliage.

Looking at him, she couldn't help but chuckle.

"That had better not have been a giggle," Zuko warned as he walked forward and reached them. "There," he said, and dropped a forestlilly into his uncle's lap. "Here's your stupid plant. Come on Katara, let's go." He pulled her to her feet and marched off across the clearing and towards the river.

She looked back at Iroh and waved goodbye to him as Zuko pulled her along. The old man smiled and waved back before he was blocked by the trees.

Zuko didn't like being away from Katara for any longer than he had to. As he held her hand, he felt his frustration slowly slipping away. His uncle had seemed a lot better and it made Zuko less guilty about leaving the old man alone after waking up with a back ache.

Katara seemed happy to be with him, and that made up for almost anything else.

He headed for the river because though her flask was full, she would lose water very quickly when fighting against him. But he also knew that around a water source he was no match for her. But if they were just practicing and not actually fighting, he wasn't worried that she'd hurt him. If anything, he was worried he'd hurt her.

But he soon realized his fears were unfounded. When they arrived at the river she'd stripped down to her white underclothes and immediately jumped in.

So much for practice.

"You still have holes in the back of that," he said as she surfaced from under the water. He chose to stay on land, mostly because he hated the water, but it was more than that. She was so much in her element here and she loved it. He just wanted to watch her having fun because it made him happy.

"Hey!" and she, of course, wasn't happy unless she was doing something that made him angry, and dumping a wave of water on top of him did just that.

Soaking wet and fully clothed at that, he glared at her through the water dripping down his face. Suddenly, water wasn't that big of a deal and he stripped off his shirt and hung it from a nearby tree to dry.

She seemed to figure out was he was going to do just before he jumped in the water because she began to laugh and swim further away from the shore. She was laughing so hard that he caught her easily enough.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she cried happily through her tears of laughter and he dunked her under the water. She came up smiling anyway and she splashed at him with her hands.

The water around them was deep enough so that he had to tread water to keep his head up. The current wasn't very strong either, so he just floated up on his back and stared at the sky.

"Zuko." she said and he dropped his head to the side to look at her.

"Yes?" he asked and she smiled at him.

"I think I've fallen in love with you."

The looked on his face had her stomach doing summersaults. She'd said it because she wanted him to know. In fact, she'd just figured it out herself and she didn't want to hide anything from him. He let his body fall into the water so that he was treading water on the same level as she was.

She hoped it hadn't been the wrong thing to say. She waited for his response and didn't regret it at all, despite the fact that all the blood had drained from her face. When a satisfied smile appeared on his face and reached out to her, she smiled back and let him hug her tightly.

They floated like that for some time before he took a deep breath. "Do you know what you just did to my stomach?" He asked quietly, and she laughed.

"Well, its true, and I'm not taking it back. I'm sorry if your stomach is uncomfortable."

He bumped her on top of the head with his chin and she smiled. Yeah, she'd made the right choice in staying with him. Even knowing it was foolish to, she'd still hoped that when her brother found out, he would at least try to accept the fire prince.

"I'm glad you told me Katara, because I think I've fallen in love with you too."

She stiffened at Zuko words as her heart leaped for joy.

"What does love feel like?" His question was so sincere that she pulled away to look at him. He looked away and she followed him when he swam to shore. She sat beside him when he lowered himself to a half-laying position on the grass.

"I'm…not really sure," she said after a few moments of staring at him.

"Me either," he said and then smiled over at her. "Are you sure you want to give me the chance to find out?"

A smile broke out on her face and put a hand on his chest. "Yes. I'm very sure."

"Good," he smiled and she leaned over him to place a very light kiss on his lips. When she pulled back something under his head caught her attention. She looked closer at it and he narrowed his eyes.

"You're not staring at my scar are you?" he asked semi-serious, and she laughed lightly. Yes, it would figure he'd think that.

"No; stop being so self-conscious," she said as she reached down and under his head for what she'd seen there. It looked so familiar and she inspected it closely. "Ah!" she said and he sat up quickly.

"What?"

She held out the handful of Appa's fur he'd been lying on, and smiled brightly. "It's a tuff of Appa's coat. Aang's flying bison."

When Zuko's eye narrowed, she wondered if it been the wrong thing to say. "He's close," he said and stood up to look around.

He'd changed so quickly from her Zuko to something else. It took her a moment to recognize the old Zuko, the one that was her enemy. The transformation scared her slightly. "What's the matter?" she asked, angry that her Zuko was gone.

He stopped his frantic movements and looked own at her like he just realized she was there. The anger must have showed on her face, because he knelt down beside her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Nothing," he said with an apology in his voice. "Never mind."

She looked at him for a second before a bad feeling lowered itself into her gut. "Zuko?" she said quietly, and he turned away. "Zuko, tell me."

"I don't want to hurt you," was all he said before he grabbed his shirt and walked back towards camp. She stared after him and hopped that he been telling the truth about it being nothing. She hoped, because she could only think of one thing that could have found its way into his thoughts.

Aang was near, and that meant he was close enough to catch.

This is where my Author Notes go...Enjoy.

I just heard the world's greatest Zutara song ever; in fact, it is now my favorite song. And no, it's not Hillary duff this time… Silly people.

Far Away, by Nickelback.

Also, now that we're past what it's about, don't forget to check out my Zutara poem "Mask". It's on this account so just head on over to my profile and please take a look.

Don't forget to review! This is the longest chapter yet!!

Here's some more review responses:

Osanagokorochi: Lol, I'm glad you like her because I do too! I was so happy when she posted it randomly on my dA account, I had a heart attack! And sorry for making you laugh so hard you wake up your roommates. That a really big complement. And I hope he grows his hair out into a ponytail!. THAT WOULD ROCK!!

Inifini: I COMPLETELY AGREE! I was like "Wait: why does he look like Jet?" But it doesn't matter because Zuko in his earth kingdom clothes is just hot, but they look a little big for him.. It's cute!

powderedsugar: because he can't wait to be a grandchildren obsessed grandfather –similes brightly-

amaurea3000: whoa chill out… it's may seem like it been a long time, but it's only been a week in the fic so far. And besides, Katara and Zuko haven't hard any information about Aang and the others and because it's in their POV I can't just randomly put Aang in there.

Quarts: noooooo- whines- I'm gonna miss you!!! Your one of my favorite reviewers! I hope you have fun and your trip is safe! And it makes me feel good that you think I write well. I actually write my own stories a lot better then fanfics.