A/N: OMG, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME OVER 100 COMMENTS!!! =D You guys are beyond amazing for giving me so many supportive/awesome suggestions/opinions that better me as a writer more and more! Ok, so after being Zutara-deprived for SO long I think it's about time we finally get some serious Zutara action started! And remember this story is rated "T" and it shall REMAIN only "T" so you don't get any ideas. ^_^ lol. Please comment and enjoy despite my low rated Zutaraness! Oh, and be aware of the time passing again in this chapter. I'm trying to hurry things up a bit since I still have A LOT of ideas left for this story and I preferably don't want this to end with over 50 chapters. xD

Song: "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis.

Why?: This song is VERY important for this chapter so I'd really appreciate if you'd hear it. It was also VERY hard to pick! It may seem obvious, but it was hard to find just the perfect song that I think would suite this chapter. Especially near the end. ;D Oh, and I also hope the chapter was appropriately titled. =)

Chapter 25 ~ Emotions

The voyage back was long and for that, Zuko was very grateful. He and Katara spent every waking hour together on the ship, and talked about everything that had happened to each of them while the other was gone...well, almost everything.

Katara couldn't describe the feelings and thoughts she had had during her capture with Sky…as much as she trusted Zuko now, she just couldn't trust him with her private thoughts about him. That seemed just as intimate a question as asking him why he had saved her life so many times. Katara wanted to know…but she was scared at the same time to find out too much.

And Zuko? Zuko just couldn't seem to describe how much angry passion he had during those days of her search. How he treated others around him, what he was willing to do, and how far he was willing to go…The Fire Lord thought that may have been a little too much for even Katara to handle. He barely handled it himself. And during all this time, Zuko saw Sapphire less and less, and for this Zuko didn't know if he was grateful or not.

He knew he had no feelings for the one handed Fire-bender, but Zuko couldn't ignore the fact that she did. Maybe it was time to finally let her go. He knew her purpose wasn't fulfilled yet…but he couldn't keep helping her with it.

Today, as he neared the edge of the ship expecting to take in the sun's fresh morning rays, he saw Sapphire standing alone with her eyes closed and the expression of her face one of complete pain. She had let her guard down and for a moment, Zuko felt that lunging on his chest again…he couldn't help feeling pity for this girl. But he also couldn't keep deceiving her. Taking a deep breath he took a few loud steps forward and Sapphire flinched while immediately opening her eyes.

Knowing he had caught her, Sapphire couldn't help feeling slightly embarrassed. But she tried to hide her hurt pride by being sarcastic,

"Forgive me, my Lord. I must have been blocking your path from something."

The way Sapphire said this hurt Zuko, and released all pity he had felt for her just a minute ago.

"No, not at all." Zuko replied in the same cold, stiff fashion as he held his hands behind his back, "I just came to inform you that we'll be making port soon. Most probably going to be arriving home by sundown."

Sapphire flashed a wide sarcastic smile at the mention of 'home' but her golden eyes darkened with anger, "Thank you so much for passing on the obvious. Now are you going to get to the point or, like always, shall I do it for you?"

Zuko gripped each of his hands tightly, reigning in his own temper at what he wanted to respond to that, he knew deep down how much Sapphire was suffering but would rather die than show it…so she was covering it up with rude smack talk. And by the time Zuko managed to respond, he sounded almost sympathetic,

"I think it's time we part ways, Sapphire. I wish you the best of luck on your journey but I just…we just can't be together anymore."

Sapphire nodded, her eyes dimmed and her whole face turned expressionless for once. It was like she had suddenly become numb, not a spark of the old glint in her eyes that always made Zuko's senses suspicious. She turned around and was starting to walk away, when she suddenly stopped, and turned her head toward Zuko.

"I see. So, you got what you wanted and you don't need me anymore, is that it? You used me to the fullest and now are throwing me out…like garbage. I wonder who that reminds me of? It seems you'll make Ozai proud yet."

Now that comment was below the belt, and Sapphire knew it, as Zuko closed his eyes in a flash of pain but he opened them immediately and glared at her with as much hatred he would look at a sworn enemy, and not being able to contain his temper no longer he flared,

"Oh, and like you haven't done the same?! You were using me first, and you only stayed with me because you knew I was the closest you would ever get to Sky to avenge your family's murder! You practically begged to stay with me!"

Sapphire's eyes narrowed but they no longer held that angry fire. She looked down, then with a new burst of confidence she took a few steps toward him, until they were inches apart. Zuko contemplated what he should do when Sapphire whispered,

"You know what's your problem Zuko? You obsess so much over your own pride that you forget about others. Of course…you don't have that problem with her…" she paused and looked him straight in the eye, "do you?"

Zuko took a deep breath in and blew it out roughly through his nose…he gave Sapphire an even stare and took a large step back. "Goodbye Sapphire."

Sapphire bowed her head slightly forward in mock respect, though her eyes couldn't hide their tear filled shimmer anymore, "Goodbye...my Lord."

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Later that evening, after they had stopped on a nearby port to drop Sapphire off, they were approaching close to the Fire Nation capitol port, just as Zuko had predicted, they arrived right on sundown.

As soon as the crew had dropped anchor, Katara clung to the edge and almost jumped up and down with excitement as she looked for her friends and family. Zuko had written a note up the moment he had found her and sent it to the Avatar. By now, they must have been counting down the seconds.

Sure enough, Aang was the first person Katara saw on the long wooden pier. Very closely backed up with Toph, Sokka, Suki, and Ty Lee. Katara smiled with that emotional shimmer in her eyes again.

The minute the ladder went down, Katara scurried down it to be met with 4 pairs of hands surrounding her in a tight embrace.

Zuko smiled for her happiness and kept his distance. Something in his heart suddenly burned though, when he saw the Avatar pushing Katara's head down to his in a moment when their lips met in a loving kiss. Well, the Avatar put as much love as he had in his, while Zuko noticed Katara slightly held back. That made him feel a little better for some reason; when the Fire Lord suddenly realized he was acting jealous he shook his head and mentally slapped himself.

She can't feel the same way…I can't feel the same way.

Though deep down, he didn't believe that.

Zuko sighed and finally joined the others. It would be a long day after that.

____________________________________________

A couple weeks later…

____________________________________________

In some miraculous manner, things went back to the way they were before Katara's kidnapping. It was as if Sky had never entered any of their lives…but he had entered. And left a permanent mark on everyone…especially with Katara.

During the day she spent most of it with Aang, him not wanting to be away from her since, only in an extreme emergency when his Avatar duties were needed would he leave and keep Sokka, Suki, or any of the others nearby. Katara complained a few times that she was being overprotected, but she knew they all just cared about her and didn't want the same to happen ever again. Despite a few minor inconveniences, Katara lived her life happily…but during the night it was a completely different story.

Nightmares with Sky invaded her mind and made her restless and tired. She usually woke up screaming or crying, or sometimes…both.

Aang wanted to move into her room, to see if he could help make her feel better, but Katara wasn't ready for that. She said it wouldn't help…she'd never tell him the truth.

Because the truth was every time she'd wake up, Katara would want to be in his arms. Every time she felt like she would burst with sadness and fear, it was his memories that kept her sane.

Katara was a simple girl, but she was not naïve enough by any means to know that what she was thinking was wrong. She could never be with him. She didn't even want to be with him…

Then why do I think about him constantly? Why does everything he says, every way he looks, crowds into my mind until I can't think about anything else? Why do I feel so free when I'm with him.

Her subconscious retaliated, stubbornly refusing every excuse Katara's logic could come up with. Because there was no logic. Katara should have known better, there was never any logic with this.

Besides, Katara was content enough now to be just friends with him…at least, that's what she kept telling herself. She hadn't seen Zuko ever since they arrived. The Fire Nation governors and officials surrounded him with questions, problems, and trials which took Zuko's time more than anything else.

But yesterday, while Katara was walking in the market place with Toph, she saw Zuko in passing. Surrounded by 6 royal guards, Zuko was talking to a governor when he caught Katara staring at him and politely nodded in greeting. Katara nodded back but she couldn't stop staring…something in his eyes had betrayed him, just like they had in the ball, he tried to hide it but she saw. It was just a glimpse but she knew the moment she read it…something was very wrong.

Later that day, Zuko stumbled on Katara and again she saw that tiredness in his eyes that was like a warning sign. He cordially invited her to meet him in the private garden tomorrow, and Katara accepted. Now she was going to find out what was wrong with him…and she promised herself, whatever she had to do…she'd do it to help Zuko.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Katara met up with Zuko at the Palace, and they walked on together into the grand garden. They circled the worn path, talking little but looking much. Katara didn't know why, but she kept getting that bad feeling she had the last time Zuko had taken her to this garden. It was a beautiful and peaceful place but it was also a place where they had shared many dark plans and secrets…but when they stopped at the Fire Lily meadow, Katara instantly was filled with pleasant memories.

Zuko went further into the meadow of warm flowers and looked down at them wistfully, before he walked back up to her, but stayed a good foot away, and smiled softly while stating,

"I'm glad you're alright Katara."

Katara smiled and glanced down but she didn't like the way his eyes looked. They were troubled…just like his soul. She wasn't going to beat around the bush this time, her blue eyes met his golden as she asked intensely, "What's wrong Zuko?"

Zuko's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"What are you thinking?" Katara specified, knowing she had caught him off guard.

Zuko now was the one to look away as he turned his body half around he whispered, "I'm going away for a little while…"

"Going away?" Katara's heart suddenly started beating wildly and her voice rose in panic, "Going away where? What are you planning to do Zuko?"

Zuko closed his eyes painfully and stayed silent. Katara could not bare it any longer and pulled him toward her though he did not budge. Katara scowled and used both hands to force him to face her and when he opened his eyes she asked again, only this time more as a command,

"Where."

Zuko stared into her fierce blue eyes and with a sigh, finally told her the truth, "I'm going after him."

"No!"

Katara felt like the breath was knocked out of her, just imaging Zuko facing Sky…she shivered at the thought alone. "No, you're not." She added with determination but Zuko shook his head and forced his voice to be harder,

"Katara, I have to."

"No, you don't!" Katara yelled at him this time and his eyes glared at her with such rage that Katara almost took a step back…almost.

"Listen Zuko he let me go, he didn't hurt me, he disappeared, it's over!"

"It's not over!" He yelled this time and shook Katara's hands off his shoulders while turning his back toward her and said more quietly, "It can never be over. Not as long as he's out there…not as long as he can get away with what he did to you…"

"But he didn't hurt me." Katara whispered in a soft voice.

Zuko turned around and took the step toward her again while staring straight at her face,

"That's a lie."

Katara wanted to instantly deny it, but the way he was staring at her…Katara knew she couldn't get away with it. So instead she joked awkwardly, "What, did Toph tell you that?"

Zuko didn't change his penetrating stare as he answered, his voice going deeper with emotion,

"No. I can see it."

Katara cringed from his bluntness but shook her head slowly from side to side while persisting, "But he didn't seriously injure me Zuko…please…don't do this. Don't go."

She stared with all the force she had in her body and practically whispered the last two words to herself but knew he had heard them. They were so close now and unconsciously, as they stared, their faces moved closer…and closer…they automatically stopped as they were mere inches from each other's lips.

Zuko's eyes questioned, Katara's answered, and as their warm staggering breathes brushed each other's cheeks, they both leaned in at exactly the same time…and their lips touched.

The second they did, something came over their entire bodies and Katara found herself holding Zuko's neck with all her force and Zuko's hands tearing into Katara's soft brown curls. Their kiss was passionate, yet soft, a mix neither of them had ever felt before when kissing their partners.

It seemed everything that had happened to them in the past, every pain, every ache, every joy, every fear, hope, loss, strength, laugh, and tear led them to this moment. To this wonderful, indescribable, stunning moment of perfect bliss that they wanted to last forever.

Katara's fingers caressed his neck, his hair, his scar. All of it, all of it was so beautiful to her fingers. While Zuko rustled, gripped, and softened his hands over Katara's hair. Wanting to hold all of her at the same time.

After a few minutes they slowly let go and stared at each other. All the emotion in their hearts reflected into their eyes as they stared and stared for what seemed longer than before. Finally, Zuko smiled and Katara couldn't help but smile back. He put one hand to the side of her face and sighed while whispering,

"Wow."

Katara giggled and slightly nodded, "Wow is right. I've never felt anything like that before."

Zuko smiled but hesitantly let his hand drop. Katara had to force herself to do the same but they continued to stare at each other with enough passion to almost say the words they were feeling but they didn't…it seemed too much to handle at the moment, but they couldn't help feeling it.

Zuko sighed again before asking with a slight twinkle in his eye, "So…what do we do now Miss Katara?"

Katara smiled again, only wider, and answered, "Anything, Lord Zuko. Anything."

Zuko nodded and knew exactly what she meant. He felt like he could do anything in the world too…as long as she was holding his hand. He offered his hand and she wordlessly took it, and they walked on together.

Knowing full well their moment of bliss had ended, and they had to face the consequences of their actions together in the real world. But they didn't want to deal with that now. Now they were just walking along the Fire Lily meadow…enjoying the moment their unspoken actions had created. And it was just as well that they did…for soon Fate would intervene through their path once again.

And it would take everything in them to survive.