Life's been busy lately - I've tried to be more social, and as I'm sure anyone with a full-time job who writes can attest, people take away a lot of your free time. I'm not giving up on this story, nor do I plan to, but I can't guarantee the weekly updates. I can't just leave it, though! The story must be completed! Enjoy (:

-Katara-

It broke her heart to leave him, but she couldn't risk falling asleep in his bed. Katara slipped from Zuko's warm, drowsy embrace a few hours before sunrise, her bare feet skimming across the wooden floors as quietly as possible.

When she passed the front door, she thought she heard something. Katara whirled around, eyeballing the dark corners of the room.

No one there.

"Katara!"

"Toph?" Katara whispered, feeling like she was losing her mind. "Is that you?" She really, really hoped there weren't spirits here after all.

"Yes! Come outside!"

"Geez…" Katara sighed and walked over to open the door. Toph was standing on the porch, tapping her foot. "You scared me. Why are you up?"

"Not the same reason you are, that's for sure."

Uhhhh… "Huh?"

"Did you really forget that I hear everything?" Toph asked impatiently, shaking her head. "Come on, Katara. At least Zuko had the excuse of not knowing."

Katara quickly stepped out onto the porch and shut the door behind her, panic fluttering in her chest. Oh, spirits. I'm such an idiot.

"What do you know?" Katara asked urgently, keeping her voice low.

"Let's take a walk." Toph turned and headed down the stairs with a satisfied smirk. Katara followed her, fuming. If Toph knew everything, it would only make it more difficult to keep anyone else from finding out. It's not like she was known for her subtlety. And you know what they say about secrets…

"It's not what you think, you know," Toph told her casually as they came out onto the beach. "I'm on your side."

Katara stopped in her tracks. "You are?"

"Yeah." Toph plopped down in the sand. "Didn't Zuko say anything?"

"No, he didn't. But I… we…" Katara trailed off, feeling self-conscious. Was she even ready to admit to anyone else how she felt about him? It had all happened so fast, in retrospect, even though it hadn't felt like it. All those singular moments, piled on top of one another, bringing the two of them closer together.

"…we didn't have a lot of time to talk," she mumbled.

"I don't need the details!" Toph rolled her eyes, but she was beaming.

"Why doesn't this bother you?" Katara asked suspiciously. "You know everyone else is going to be furious when they find out. It's Zuko."

"So?"

"Don't give me that."

"Everyone here knows Zuko is on the good side now." Toph bit her lip.

"That won't matter to Aang, Toph," Katara whispered, afraid her voice would break if she spoke normally.

"I know," Toph said quietly, dragging her fingers through the sand. "And I know it sucks, Katara, like really sucks, but… you're gonna have to hurt Aang. No getting around it. Unless you wanna hurt Zuko instead. That's your choice."

"You think I don't know that?" Katara crossed her arms, glaring into the distance. "I'm going to tell Aang. After."

"After what?"

"After the war. After Ozai is defeated."

"Katara, how do you think Aang will feel when he realizes how long you were lying to him?" Toph asked reproachfully, sounding angry for the first time.

"How do you think he'll feel if he gets killed by the Fire Lord, distracted by his broken heart? Oh wait - he won't feel anything. He'll be dead!"

"You really think a lot of yourself, huh?" Toph rolled her eyes. "What makes you so sure that's what will happen?"

"Thought you said you were on my side?" Katara snorted. "I just know what I see, Toph. And I see a lovesick kid with this huge destiny almost upon him, who I trust with my life, and trusts me with his. He's my best friend – he's family. All I've ever wanted is to protect him, and I'm still trying to do that now! The truth won't help him defeat the Fire Lord. At least my way, he has a better chance."

"This isn't better for Aang," Toph objected with a scowl. "It's better for you."

"No. I hate lying to him. I hate knowing I'll be the source of more pain." Katara swallowed down the lump in her throat. "But if we lose the war, it won't matter much, will it?"

"I guess… I see your point," Toph muttered grudgingly. "But I don't like it."

"You sound like Zuko," Katara sighed. "I know. It feels wrong. But in this case… " She shrugged, conflicted. "For me, it really came down to whether Aang's feelings were more important than the fate of the world. And as much as I care about him, as much as it's going to hurt later on… for both of us… I can't lie to myself. Then or now."

"You've really thought about this," Toph mused. She didn't sound pleased.

"Yeah." Katara sighed again, deeper this time. The guilt would probably eat her alive before long.

"I thought you were just scared to tell Aang."

"No, not scared… I know he won't hurt me. And I don't think he'll hurt Zuko. I'm more worried about what he'll do to himself."

"He does have a tendency to run away from his problems," Toph agreed, looking annoyed. "And get himself into trouble while he's at it."

"Exactly."

They both heaved identical sighs, causing Katara to crack a smile as Toph rolled her eyes.

"Now I'm feeling as depressed as you've been looking the last couple days."

Katara didn't reply. What was she supposed to say? Yeah, the guilt is kinda killing me. It'll be worse when Aang actually finds out… and on top of that, I feel even more guilty because of how much I think about Zuko, Zuko of all people, and how impossibly right it feels to be with him. Do I deserve to have that? Will Aang hate me forever? Will he be okay?

There was just no way to know, except to wait and see. That was the real torture of it all. She was keeping secrets, keeping Aang stable until after the war. It was a cold way to treat a friend, and it filled her with self-loathing. She'd argued her point to Zuko, and Toph, convinced each of them. For the greater good. I could probably convince anyone of anything with that argument. Scary.

She had no idea what the future held. For her, for Zuko… for Aang. She wanted all of them, together, and Zuko's hand burning in hers, and Aang's buoyant energy, Sokka's lovable noise and Suki's steadfast loyalty, Toph's unstoppable will and candor. Was that too much to ask for? Was choosing Zuko going to ruin everything?

I have to stop obsessing.

"Katara?" Toph was on her feet now, sounding worried. "You okay?"

"I'll be fine," Katara assured her. "It's just been… a wild few weeks."

"More wild than the last few months?"

A small, startled laugh popped out of Katara's mouth, without her permission. What an impossible life she'd already led. So much had happened, so fast, and she never thought she'd be where she was now, who she was.

"Somehow, yes. I guess that sounds pretty unbelievable."

"Nah, I believe it. It is Zuko. I suspected, sure, and then I heard the concrete proof, but still… Water Tribe Princess and Fire Nation Prince? Falling in love during a war? It's like something out of a fairytale! Or a prophecy…" Toph looked thoughtful.

"I'm not really a princess, but I see your point." Katara smiled, imagining their story still told eons later, just like Oma and Shu.

"Or fate! Yeah, that's my favorite. You guys were destined to be together."

"Okay, calm down," Katara laughed, feeling her spirits rise. It was nice to have somebody on their side. "Honestly, we haven't talked too much about the future. Kind of moot at this point, you know?"

"How is it moot? You wanna die without having that conversation? Without knowing?" Toph had turned serious in an instant, standing stock still with her head angled towards Katara. Listening. Hearing more than other people would.

Katara tried to calm her suddenly thumping heart. Toph had pounced on the one thing she'd been trying so hard not to think about.

It was painfully clear to her, though, no matter how much she wanted to block it out. Her feelings weren't some temporary madness, brought about by the potential end of the world. She wanted to be with Zuko at all times, look into his eyes and hear his husky voice and remind him how wanted he truly was - which was just the tip of the iceberg, really, judging by the strength of will it took to hold back everything she felt. The way she wanted always to touch him when he was near, and the way he absolutely stole her breath away. The burning desire she felt to protect him at all costs. Her faith in him. Her awe. Her pride. The fierce tenderness his pain now stirred in her.

What if she let herself love him, and she lost him?

"You're scared, Katara, this time I can tell."

"Completely different topic," Katara mumbled, blinking tears back. Hard.

"None of us can count on a happy ending." Toph gave her tiny, light punch on the shoulder. "But you gotta try anyway. Night, Sugar Queen. I'm here for you."

"Thanks, Toph." Katara rolled her eyes with a wet snort. "Sleep tight."

Katara went through half a dozen water-bending forms before she felt calm enough to return to the house. Instinctively, she turned to head down Zuko's hallway, but came to an abrupt halt, glaring at his door. Not that she was angry at him. There was just something so frustrating about him being right there, warm and naked and alone, and not being able to go to him. But she'd pushed her luck already tonight.

In a few hours, she'd have to wake up and pretend she was well-rested, pretend she hadn't moaned quietly into the crook of Zuko's neck the night before, or that his hands hadn't left slight imprints around her forearms as he held them above her head.

She'd have to pretend that his smile didn't fill her to the brim with warmth, and light.

Katara tiptoed into her room, cheeks warm, head filled with daydreams about being alone with him, really alone, but not because they had to hide. Just to be together.

She slipped out of her clothes and under the sheets, letting her tired body relax into the mattress with a low groan of relief. She hadn't slept in almost twenty-four hours.

Vaguely, in her last few seconds of consciousness, she wished for the feel of Zuko's scorching skin against hers.