Chapter 26

Zuko sat besides Katara's bed, head in hands after days of sitting there waiting for her to open her eyes. Then suddenly he heard her voice murmur out "Kyou"

He snapped his head up and looked at the unconscious form that was lying in front of him. Sokka had also noticed and went immediately to her side.

"Kyou? oh no! she's imagining him! KATARA!" Sokka yelled

"What are you doing?" Zuko hissed at him, yanking Sokka away from Katara's bed. Sokka glared at him then shrugged "Maybe she'll wake up"

"Or go deaf" Zuko muttered under his breath but Sokka heard. He glared at Zuko before turning back to Katara. There was silence until she murmured something again. This time, "Mum?" her voice wavered, as if she couldn't believe it.

"Oh god, oh god" Sokka started panicking "she sees mum. KATARA! DON'T GO INTO THE LIGHT!" he screeched at the top of his voice.

"For god sake!" Zuko clamped his hand over Sokka's mouth to shut him up. He then left something slimy lick it.

"Gross!" he exclaimed, moving his hand off Sokka's mouth and wiping it on his jeans "You're sick man"

Sokka just stood there grinning stupidly.

"Honestly" Zuko shook his head, sitting back down "and screaming at her doesn't even help"

"How do you know?" Sokka pointed out indignantly.

"Sokka?" Katara's voice croaked out and both boys turned round to her. Zuko getting off his seat as fast as he could to come by her side.

"Kata" Sokka breathed happily and clasped here hand tightly, tears welling in both their eyes. Sokka turned briefly to Zuko "could you give us a moment alone, please?"

Zuko nodded without saying a word and left as quickly as he could, that was no place for him to be in, that was a sibling bond that he couldn't interfere with.

He stood in the corridor for a while then spotted a seat not too far from Katara's door and went and sat in it.

"Wow first time out of her room" a friendly voice said and Zuko looked up to see an old nurse smiling in front of him.

"Yes" he nodded politely "She just woke up and her and her brother wanted some alone time."

"Ah, sibling bonding, I wish i could have that" the woman sighed wistfully.

"So do i" Zuko murmured under his breath as the old woman made her way down the hospital corridor.

Zuko sat alone, for about 20 minutes, worrying about Katara, until, finally, Sokka came out of the room.

"Is she ok?" Zuko asked instantly.

"Yeah, and she wants to see you" Sokka suddenly grinned "I'm going to go to the canteen, want anything?"

"No, thanks" Zuko smiled wryly at his friend and watched Sokka's happy strides as he made his way to the canteen.

Zuko then hestitaed as he stood outside her door, took a deep breath, then opened it.

Katara was sitting upright on the bed and smiled sadly when Zuko entered the room.

"Sokka wont tell me" she said softly. Zuko frowned, confused.

"About what?"

"About Hahn, about Jet, about what really happened" Katara bit her lip "So what did happen? Where's Jet?"

"Well, Sokka and Jet took you outside and I fought Hahn" Zuko said, trying to not get into details and avoid the subject of Jet. But Katara wasn't having it.

"And Jet?" she pestered.

"He fought Hahn with me after a while" Zuko admitted.

Tear's filled her eyes "Oh no." She sobbed "he's dead, isn't he? He's dead and it's all my fault" she started to shake. Zuko felt a stab of jelously go through his heart but he tried to ignore it to comfort Katara.

"No, he's alive" he sighed, saying slowly "but he's gone"

"Gone?" Katara echoed.

"Gone" Zuko repeted firmly "him and the Freedom Fighters slpit up and he dropped from school to go his own way in life" Zuko tried to keep the anger out of his voice "but he asked me to tell you to wait for him"

"Really?" Her voice perked up.

"Yeah" Zuko muttered, looking down at the floor.

"Thats a shame" Katara sighed. Zuko looked up at her, confused.

"Why?"

"Because he doesn't realise I'm already taken" she smiled over at him but he frowned, still confused.

"Who?"

"Well" Katara smiled fondly "he strong, sweet... and a rubbish dancer" she giggled weakly at the last part.

"Who is this guy?" Zuko aksed angrily.

"It's you stupid" Katara giggled.

"Oh" Zuko smiled gently. He then leaned over her and they kissed gently.

"Wow" he smiled at her as they parted slowly and he slipped her hand into his.

Sokka chose that time to enter the room. "hey guys! I jusr-" he stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Katara and Zuko's hand in hand. "You and him? You and her?" he poinrted at them, gaping slightly. Katara nodded happily, looking up at Zuko, a smile on her face.

"Thats..." Sokka trailed off for a few moments then grinned "Great!"

"Really?" Zuko asked, shocked when Sokka nodded, a foolish grin plastered on his face.

"Anyway" Sokka continued "I just remembered something! Hairy palms!"

"What?" Zuko frowned.

"The first sign of madness!" Sokka beamed with proud of remembering his riddiculous fact.

They all giggled together, even Zuko gave Sokka a wry smile and he then glanced down at Katara happily. She looked up at him at that moment, her eyes shining brihtly. He leant down, kissing her puckered lips with enthusiamsm.

"Ewwww!" Sokka shuddered "No kissing in front of me!"

"Sorry" Katara smiled sheepishly, but when Sokka's back was turned she pulled Zuko's top so his head was leveled to hers and kissed him happily. Zuko felt her lips break into a smile as they kissed and found himself dragged off of Katara by a pissed off Sokka.

So there you have it!

Satified?

No... then maybe i'll upload an epiloge ;)

Seriously though, i will :) so this wont be marked as completed until i upload that epiloge :)

Jet: Ok, wait... you just cut me off of the story? just like that?

Me: don't worry, for the epiloge its your point of view :)

Jet: Sweet. Now, say it!

Me: Seriously? i'm just gunna ignore you people now!

Azula: Shoud i give you a little visit?

Me: No, No,! its ok!

I Do not own ATLA :(