A/N: I'm pretending that in the Avatar Universe, a game very similar to Scrabble exists. It's called Scramble (so original, I know). Beyond that, I didn't fudge anymore facts.

Miniramble: Guess what? I've got this story planned out all the way to the end! Yaayyyy! Now all I have to do is write it… less yay, but it's still there. Wish me luck on writing this weekend? I hope to get a lot done. Oh, and once I finish writing every bit of this story then I'll start posting on Saturday's, too! Just to give you all a heads up :)

If you have a spare moment, please review! A virtual penny for your thoughts ^_^ Everyone that's reading, alerting, reviewing, and favoriting this story, you make me smile! I started off writing this just to give myself closure but I'm glad to see that you all are enjoying reading it as much as I am imagining it!

Disclaimer: Don't own it. (But I do in my dreams!)

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'Do you remember when we didn't care?

We were just two kids that took the moment when it was there

Do you remember you at all?

Another heart calls….

I remember when we stole the night.

We'd like awake but dreaming 'til the sun would wash the sky

Just as soon as I'd see you – but didn't I, but didn't I tell you?

As deep as I need you, you wanna leave it all.

What can I do? Say it's true…

Or everything that matters breaks in two

Say it's true….

I'll never ask for anyone but you….

But I know you what you want is to figure it out

And God knows I do, too –

What can I do? Say it's true…

I'll never ask for anyone but you.'

~'Another Heart Calls', All American Rejects

"Do you plan on relaxing any time soon, or are you just going to stand there?" Katara's voice held strong over the roaring of the sea.

"I am relaxed."

"Please." She scoffed.

"I'm just thinking." Zuko turned back to face her but she saw he was still lost in thought, half paying attention to his surroundings.

"Yeah, I can see that." She murmured.

He shook his head, to all intents and purposes dispelling his commanding thoughts. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to play Scramble with one person. It's a little hard to keep track of the points." Katara smirked lightly at her own joke.

He responded in tune. "Can I join?"

"You don't need to ask." She cleared off the board and dropped all of the pieces back into a leather bag dyed green, shaking them around a bit more than necessary. Taking her allotted pieces, she pushed the bag over to him and he dutifully took his own. Zuko went first, snapping the tiles across the tabletop.

For fifteen minutes, they went back with little words exchanged. The quiet was as nice as the day outside – warm, comforting, and peaceful. Katara was secretly glad that he was at least putting his energy into some activity while his mind was occupied. She intentionally played with half a mind so that they're on a more even ground because of it.

Word of the attack on Lee Hyun-Shik, Colonel Jaipal's assistant, reached him – both of them, actually – quickly. Zuko sent the leader a lengthy letter in return, thanking him for the report, allowing Hyun-Shik to partake in that 'test', and thanking Hyun-Shik for his willing involvement. He also included, almost passively, that the money he'd sent with the intention of letting the rebels have a 'taste' could be re-routed to the boy's pockets. It would've been nice to see Lee's expression on that.

It wasn't much in terms of an amount, maybe enough for him to invest in a small apartment and get some new furniture, too, but it was the thought that counted. That's what Zuko had been taught by his mother.

"Any word on Lee Hyun-Shik? Did his black-eye heal any better?" Katara spoke up, laying down the word 'crescent'.

"How do you do that?"

"Do what; the word?" Her brow creased in confusion.

"No. How do you know what I'm thinking?"

Katara blushed sheepishly. "Coincidence, I guess."

He smiled and contemplated his letter tiles. "Yeah, he's better. Those men… they're animals." Zuko laid down his word and took a few tiles from the green bag to replenish his stack. "Too bad the leader is General Shinu's brother. Now I have to let Hyun-Shik's attack just pass. I hate having to hold off because of political reasons."

"Not to mention it's awkward." She grinned at him. He just shook his head, pointing out to her that the word she just spelled is missing a vowel. She picked it back up and laid out another one.

The familial relations that Kaol Lee Shinu has isn't the only reason Zuko held off. He didn't want any of his men – and by extension Colonel Jaipal's – to start a physical conflict before he could get there. A rebellion in one's own nation is severe enough and demands the full attention of its ruler; especially a nation such as the Fire Nation, where the strict upbringing is enough to make even someone who's starving think twice about stealing.

But, his attention is currently occupied by another matter. A personal one. Zuko hoped that this trip wouldn't be a colossal disappointment. He wanted closure with his mother - with his childhood.

Both have haunted him his whole life and both were the only things that he couldn't fix with ending the War. It's a precarious position I've put myself in, he mulled. I should be focusing first and foremost and completely on my nation. I have to deal with this rebellion and then there's a few requests sitting on my desk for road and bridge projects, approval to convert now-unused military bases, and approval for being able to set up local governments (another thing Ozai tended not to allow, instead wanting his soldiers to police their own hometowns; Zuko thought it to be too ridiculous to laugh at).

And then there's the fact that I still has three advisor seats open that I'm getting pressure at from the Fire Sages and the other four advisors separately to fill. Zuko didn't trust anyone else enough to make them an advisor. The only person he could think of that would be remotely eligible for that position was Ty Lee; but she didn't have the knowledge, ambition, or otherwise to do it. Then there was always the fact that she was peaceful now – the first time since he'd met her during their childhood – and he knew the answer he'd get. A big, fat 'no'.

Of course, I can always change that rule. Make it so that a Fire Lord can have any number of advisors he wants – large and few alike. Zuko wanted to smirk at the thought.

At the end of the day, he was fighting job duties against personal needs. Ozai warned him on the stress he would have while being Fire Lord; had laughed in his face the one and only time Zuko went to visit his father in prison. It was also when he asked him, point blank, where Ursa was. He had never received a direct answer. Zuko didn't think, now that time had passed for reflection, that Ozai even knew anything about her location after she left in the dead of night. He'd made it abundantly clear that he didn't care.

But, as Zuko thought over all that was waiting at his desk and all that was potentially waiting at Fuschen and with the rebellion and then the island where Jarro was on, he saw that it wasn't the stress getting at him. No, it's the conflict inside of him. My father was – is – such a fool, he thought.

Zuko knew he'd chosen finding his mother before all else when he had first asked his father about her. It was before that, really. It was truly decided when he learned that she was banished and not killed outright; something he learned from his father after confronting him and then redirecting lightning against him, leaving the dumb bastard in a slump against the palace walls for Aang to deal with.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

He looked up to see Katara smiling and her head tilted, leaning on her limp palm. "I'm reflecting on decisions."

"That's never a good thing." She teased.

"Sometimes it is." Zuko stared at her for a second longer than usual. "I hope we find something. Even if she's gone, it would be nice to find closure."

Katara nodded and reached across, squeezing his hand. "Zuko, even if you get closure through tragedy, it's still closure. You're prepared for all the possibilities we might find, right?" He inclined his head. She realized her words and continued speaking hastily. "I'm sorry, that sounded really bad. I just mean, that- I'm your friend, right? I just hope you don't get too hurt in the end by hoping and then… finding the truth. Whatever that may be because, come on, we have no idea-"

She continued to babble and he just smiled. He'd already thought – multiple times – exactly what she was saying. It didn't faze him in the slightest. The only thing that bothered him was how each of them were always cautious with their words, fumbling about for apologizes because each was afraid to hurt the other. Zuko stood from his chair and leaned over the small table. He held her chin lightly and stared, waiting for her. She stopped talking and licked her lips, looking at him. Questioning.

"I understand what you're saying, Katara. It's no big deal."

"Oh. Good."

The silence between them stretched as she waited for him to explain why he was suddenly in front of her. His eyes flickered down to her lips. "I'm going to kiss you now… and I mean it as more than us being friends." Katara's eyes widened in surprise, but her breath only became shallower.

He brushed his lips across hers gently. Simply tasting and feeling her. Her lips were chapped from the cold winds, but still sweet. Zuko savored the moment like it lasted for an eternity, when it reality it was but for a few seconds long. Absently, he waited for her to react as he savored possibly the only moment he would ever be able to taste her lips, but he was more surprised when she made no move.

Partly a good thing - her not pushing him away and yelling - and partly a bad thing, too. Zuko knew what it meant, him acting on this idea he'd had for so long. He was giving up his control. Katara held all the power. What was lying under the surface, unspoken in the cool air, was now out in the open. Feelings were proclaimed without being verbally so and he could only hope she didn't wake up the next day - or moments from now from the kiss - and decide she still hates something about him and push him away.

Their friendship is forever changed. Sure, it could go on much like before; but it would always have an undercurrent. Which kind of current, Zuko hoped for the romantic one. But he wasn't naive to believe it would happen. He only knew it could.

Pulling back, Zuko slowly moved away, staying a few inches from her face. Opening his eyes, which were half lidded by an accord not of his own making, Zuko looked into Katara's face. Surprisingly, her eyes were still fluttered closed and made her look... peaceful. If it weren't for the slightly heavy breathing he heard, he would believe that she was calm, too.

Then something beautiful happened. Katara never once opened her eyes to question or project curiosity through her blue orbs. Her free hand reached up to cradle his chin, instead, and she pulled him into another kiss.

Zuko sighed against her mouth with relief. Her lips were softer this time, and seemed sweeter. He felt the curve of her lips under his own as she smiled. Katara pressed harder and circled her arms around his neck, the heat rising between them. They stayed like that for several long minutes before he shifted his head. Zuko trailed kisses to the corner of her mouth, to her cheek, and back. Katara sighed in his ear.

He tucked a stray lock away from her face and sat back completely. She was wearing her hair down today with only two strands in the front pulled together with blue beads. Katara stared down at the pieces in front of her when she opened her eyes and she started gnawing on her bottom lip. Her lips were a darker pink shade now and her face was flushed; a stark contrast from the cold winds around them that made everyone pale.

He knew she was trying to process what that kiss meant for both of them. Zuko was too.

Just two – almost three, now – weeks ago they had almost kissed in Amaupah but agreed, without words, that they would pretend it didn't happen and continue on as usual. Then, they had reinforced through their words that they were strictly friends (in part because they each found a way to bring up the word in every conversation). It was to remind the other and themselves. Sometimes, it was easy to forget.

Truth be told, Zuko didn't want to forget. And he didn't want her to forget this one just now. He reached over and took her hand in his. She looked up and he smiled at her – she smiled back shyly.

He had had an impulse and he finally acted on it.

And it really wanted him to kiss her again.

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The stars are soft as flowers, and as near;

The hills are webs of shadow, slowly spun;

No separate leaf or single blade is here-

All blend to one.

No moonbeam cuts the air; a sapphire light

Rolls lazily. and slips again to rest.

There is no edged thing in all this night,

Save in my breast.

~'Midnight', Dorothy Parker

"Lean up, Winsor. We're not digging for molerats with our swords." The other kids in the class giggled as the boy in question turned beet red with embarrassment.

Sokka and Suki were now at Kyoshi Island. Suki quickly ran off to continue her duties as the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors after giving him the initial introductions to her family. Sokka had been a bit stunned to see that she still lived with her father, Blais, and Aunt, Celeigh; something he didn't hear mentioned when he was on the island before. She had told him that her mother had died during a raid; the same one that injured her father. Now, her father was weak and frail. He was constantly bed-ridden, but it didn't change his strong convictions about things. He was wary of Sokka; who, for his part, sweat like a pig when talking to Suki's father and was as nervous as a beaten circus animal.

The couple didn't see much of each other the past few days, but it was alright. They were each doing fine in their own elements. The Kyoshi Island didn't have many warriors that were male (outside of the Kyoshi Warriors clan, that is, which had none), so Sokka offered to help teach some of the children in the local school. Most of the girls opted out of regular schooling at a young age and entered the intense training of becoming a Kyoshi warrior. As a result of that, most of his students were male, like they would be anywhere else.

He was having fun with it and seeing Suki's smile on the few occasions she could stop by made it even better.

"Your form isn't too good either, Hammun. I don't know what you're laughing about." The lead boy of the trouble-makers in the group stopped laughing and frowned, trying to find where he went wrong.

Sokka winked over at the first boy, Winsor, and then called the attention of all the boys - and two girls - back to the head of the classroom.

"The last thing we'll practice for today is the lung. I will change it up this time. I'll demonstrate and all of you have to figure out what you're doing wrong when you imitate it - before you can go home. Okay?"

They all groaned and he nodded, unfazed. While a few of the students complained amongst themselves, Sokka got in position and quickly executed it. His wooden sword (a practice one like the rest of them had) spliced smoothly through the air, staying still as his body dipped.

"Your turn."

Most of the students quickly tried and failed while a few of hard studies – and pure lucky ones – did it right on the first time. He walked around all of the children tapped their shoulders when they got it right. The few that did so on the first try immediately grinned and grabbed their bags, running off and out down the school halls to enjoy the extra time they would get to have playing in the outdoors before needing the head home.

Sokka sat down in a spare chair off to the side of the room and unwrapped his late lunch. A kabob style assortment of meats and 'hearty' vegetables (as Suki called them - which only amused him) like potatoes and brussel sprouts. He looked at it warily. She talked him into getting this one and not the one deep-fried in honey batter. Sokka really wished he had the one with honey.

The prior class to his had ended early. It was supposed to be a blessing but he spent so much time setting up the unfamiliar space – it's his first day in a permanent classroom, after all - that he was unable to have his lunch any sooner. Or at all. He chewed a brussel sprout and it burned his tongue. He spit it out in disgust.

Sokka looked up at the students and signaled to a few more that they could leave. Most were catching on quickly. Well, that, or they're just copying one of the others and getting lucky. He smiled. That's what I would've done once upon a time, he thought.

Calling out to two more, he was quickly distracted by the beauty standing in his classroom's doorway. One of the boys on the way out was, too, and he accidently clipped his shoulder on the doorframe. Sokka winced for the boy.

"I hope I'm not interrupting. I thought you'd be done by now." Suki smiled sheepishly.

"You're not. The class ran over."

"Ah. Have a bad first day?" She sauntered over.

"Just the opposite. I think I might be catching the hang of it." Sokka smiled proudly. He didn't tease that it wasn't his first day (he actually had a week-long trial before he could officially teach the class) as she walked up.

Suki embraced him when she drew near enough, her arms loosely draped around his waist. "Really? I find that hard to believe – you're so stubborn!"

"Well what if I'm changing – sort of?"

"I would say I like it but don't change too much; I love you just as you are." They shared a kiss and Sokka startled when he heard a loud thump. He was embarrassed at having forgotten there are still some students left in the room. He turned back to see one boy had fallen over – as both the loud sound before and his face planted on the ground indicated – and was cursing some choice words Sokka would rather not acknowledge hearing.

He dismissed the last few students and turned back to the youngest of the group to see Suki was already helping him up. "You okay there?"

"No." The boy grumbled.

"Sorry, but, uh, what's your name?"

"Fen. And it's fine. Really." He turned and thanked Suki before standing back on his mat and taking a deep breath. Suki quirked an eyebrow over at her fiancé but he didn't see it, focusing instead of how the boy was setting up his stance. The boy tried to leap and spring out his sword but his feet caught on the mat, his ankles twisting under his legs, and he let out a yelp. Suki managed to catch him just in time before he face-planted on the tile one more. "Sorry."

"There's no need to apologize. Here, can I show you something?" Suki took his nod as approval and started moving his feet and knees.

"What're you doing?"

"Yeah, what are you doing?" Sokka furrowed his brow.

She looked up at the boy with a sweet smile. "Us girl were always tripping over our feet, too." Fen smiled. "One minute we are suspected to wear fancy skirts and platform sandals and the next we have to fight for six hour straight. Not to mention we have to fight in skirts, too. You men – you have it made." She sighed and Fen giggled. Suki straightened back. "Okay, now try again but put your dominance on your left, okay?"

"Okay." The boy tried it again and only wobbled this time. It was a considerable improvement to the falling.

"Why don't you try shifting your sword from your right to your left." Sokka suggested.

The boy just looked at him with an aghast expression. "But all the teachers teach right-handed stuff!"

Sokka just rolled his eyes at the kid and got a sword, standing across from him. "What side is my sword at?"

"The le- I mean, right!"

"You see it as my left. If you think about it, you'll actually have an advantage over all the other kids, see?" Sokka demonstrated a move and encouraged Fen to follow along with it. The boy was easily able to mimic it as he simply followed it completely, instead of doing it backwards and on the opposite side.

"Oh." The boy flushed.

Suki showed him how to press his heels together until they clicked and then slid his less dominate foot – his right – forward a few more inches. Sokka explained to him that his dominate was always to stay back, as it was used for support. The flimsy and less reliable led - if only because the stronger side of his body (or leg, in this case) could quickly shift stance if he lost direction or stability.

Fen tried it again and, this time, he succeeded fully. He jumped and impulsively hugged Suki. She just smiled when he pulled back and mumbled apologies again – even he knew she was the leader of the Kyoshi warriors. Fen held out his hand to Sokka and the South Pole man shook it, thoroughly amused.

"Why weren't you home sooner, son?" A voice boomed from the doorway and Fen hurriedly raced towards it. The man was tall but hunchbacked and looked older than his years with lines etching his face.

"It was nothing, Dad, I was just practicing some more! Guess what? I was able to almost master a move, too!"

Suki giggled as the boy's voice disappeared down the hall. "I think you just made that boy's day."

"Nope. That was all your doing."

"Let's call it a tie." She leaned against him and Sokka slipped an arm around her waist as they enjoyed the silence and company. In just a few hours, there would be a feast and celebration over Suki's return. They were both excited and dreading it at the same time – celebrations meant no peace and quiet; even when you're exhausted because of the travel (and tell them that, too).

"You really like leading the people? Being a figure to look up to?"

She smiled over at him. "Yeah. Nothing else feels like home."

Sokka nodded and pecked her on the forehead. "Okay, then that settles it. Welcome home."

"Just like that?" Suki startled up and looked at him skeptically.

"Why not? There's nothing else to discuss – I won't drag you down to the South Pole and I love seeing you happy!" He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his forehead against hers. "You're permanently home."

"We are home." She corrected and he shared her grin.

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A/N2: Daww! Resolutions for both of them… almost! Well, resolution for Sokka and Suki (Soki?) until the wedding and resolution for Zutara until they can talk it all (which won't be for a few chapters, I think). Gah, I love these two couples!