So here it is, the smut chapter. Not very explicit (at least not according to me), as I don't do that, but still, warning you. What's erotica for me can be porn for someone else, so yeah, this be your heads-up. Proceed with caution.

I honestly wanted to include a lot more here than what has come out, but it was getting far too long. So the next chapter will essentially be the continuation of this chapter.

I will most likely be updating Subterfuge next. A couple of confessions here, (don't throw your brickbats at me, pls).

Confession 1: I am having a little bit of insecurity with this story. Like I know what I am doing, where I'm going, what I am about to do. But the result is turning out to be far longer than I expected. This has never happened to me before. Even when I am writing my novels, I usually have a very good guess what the final word count will be like, with a margin of error of about 5k words. Right now, at 84k+ words, the story still has at least 20-25k words more to go. Which means I'm looking at 100k+ words! Holy shitballs! That means I have been off in my estimate by about 45k words. What? What? What?

Confession 2: Okay, this is where the brickbats are coming but I like Subterfuge's Zuko better. XD

Alright, now that all of that is off my chest, here you go. Have fun. Oh and reviews please. I love you all!

Chapter 31

"What?" Katara said, the word coming out more like a squeak.

Zuko smiled as he pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, "Is that a surprise?"

"D-d-do…what do you mean?" Katara stuttered, her mind struggling to catch up to her racing heart.

Zuko's head dipped down to her throat, lining her with featherlight kisses, "Isn't it obvious?"

Her body trembled, while her heart swelled to a size too large to reside in her chest. "Zuko," his name tumbled from her lips, freeing her of a thirteen-year-long bondage. Without realizing, her eyes fluttered shut.

Oblivious to her condition, he brought his lips to hers and murmured against them, "I love you, Katara."

This. This moment was a prayer that was long buried. A desire that was burned alive. A wish that she had stifled. A craving denied. Her hands tightened around him as she clung to him, laughing and crying at the same time. She didn't know if the tears were from joy or sorrow. Was it pain or was it liberation? She didn't know. Didn't care. Zuko kissed her tears away and held her in his arms as though she were the most precious thing in the entire world. He rubbed his cheek against hers and said, "I love you. So much. You were always special to me, but now… if I don't see you at least once a day, I go absolutely insane."

Katara sniffled and looked at him, "I'm sorry. You're saying… something so important and I… I'm ruining everything by crying. You must think I'm being stupid."

He shook his head, running his hand along her back, "No. Not at all."

She rubbed her tears and folded her hands in prayer. Was it okay? Was she now really, truly allowed to say it? The words that had stayed buried within her, providing her warmth in the darkest of days? The words she had guarded with all her might, was she just… meant to say it? The words that she had told herself, over and over and over, were sin. Were they no longer a transgression?

"It's okay, Katara," he said cupping her face. "I understand it is a lot to digest for you. You don't have to say anything to me. Take your time, I'll wait."

She shook her head, "No. I want to say it. I've kept them buried in for far too long. I need to say it."

With his thumbs, he brushed her tears away, "Go ahead then. But trust me, it's okay if you can't. I will understand."

She made a sound half between a sob and a laugh. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and whispered, "I… I… I love you, Zuko."

Before she could even revel in the weight that was lifted off her chest, Zuko claimed her lips in a deep, demanding kiss. One after another, they kissed till all that remained between them was the need for each other. He plucked the haircomb off, letting her tresses tumble down to her waist. Still joined at the lips, she took his belt off and pushed the tunic from his shoulders. He shrugged the garment off and draped his hand behind her, fidgeting with the collar. His hand then came over to the front, and then with a growl, he pulled back.

"How the heck does this open?"

Unable to stop herself, Katara giggled and undid the hidden clasps at her shoulders. The silk gown slid to the floor to pool around her feet. Clad in a red chemise, she was suddenly conscious. She pulled at the thin strap, curling a little into herself. He took a step forward and grabbed her hands. "I want to look at you," he whispered.

Taking a deep breath, she loosened her arms, allowing him to pull them apart. She looked up to find him looking at her with hooded eyes, love and desire written distinctly. "Beautiful," he said and claimed her lips in another kiss as they moved. Soon enough, Katara felt the bed hit the back of her knees. Breaking off, she got on the bed, lay down and held out her arms for him. With a smile, he lowered himself to hover over her. For the longest time, all they did was just look at each other. He was magnificent. A strand of his hair coming down to rest on her neck. Golden eyes looking at her with the softest expression.

"I want you, Katara," he whispered.

The words were enough to send shivers down her spine. She didn't respond in words, instead she pulled him closer and bucked her hips, brushing against his hard arousal. A beaming smile of pride blossomed on her lips as she understood her power over him. He released a trembling breath and began exploring her. Hooking a finger on one strap and pulled it down, kissing her shoulder as he moved. Katara arched her head back, moaning.

"Zuko," she whimpered as he pulled the chemise lower to uncover her breast.

"Oh spirits," he groaned, gently cupping it. He ran a thumb over her nipple, sending a shudder through her. He bent down and captured it in his mouth and Katara was lost to the world. Sucking, kissing, licking it, he gave her breast his attention, while his other hand brought the twin out. He then shifted to the newly uncovered one and took it into his mouth. Katara arched her spine, shivering and quivering. As he pulled the chemise down, he planted open mouthed kisses on the skin he discovered. Under his ministrations, Katara felt her toes curl in pleasure. With one tug, he pulled the chemise off her and threw it away, leaving her clad only in her red silk shorts. Zuko lifted her leg and began his ministrations on her inner thigh, setting a trail of fire in the process. He moved lower and lower but stopped right before he reached her core. She could feel the heat of his breath and the ache of her own arousal, driving her to a frenzy.

"Please, please," she said, not knowing what she was begging for.

Gently, humming in approval, he thumbed her over the cloth. Incoherent noises tumbled from her lips as she tried to contain herself. Whatever little thought Katara possessed was lost when his mouth came over her clothed center, his hot breath consuming her. When he hooked his finger on her waistline, though, something cut through her haze of love and lust.

"Zuko wait," she breathed. "Please, wait."

He looked up, confused, "What? Did I do something wrong?"

She shook her head and sat up. "No. No. It's just… I had a moment of panic."

He moved over to her and gathered her in his arms. Skin touching bare skin was a sensation she was not prepared for. She felt as though she had been roaming in the Si Wong desert for years, parched to her core, only to unexpectedly find herself caught in a deluge. She ran her fingers over the scar on his chest. Her scar. The mark of the moment when he had stolen her heart and stamped his authority all over her mind and soul. Now, it was just a matter of surrendering her body to him, something that was his to begin with. She belonged to him. Had belonged to him for years. Now, when it was time to actually act on the one truth of her life, she was having a panic attack?

"Should I stop?" he asked, snapping her out of her head.

"What?"

"You're panicking, right? I don't want to make things worse for you."

Katara took a deep breath, refusing to let Aang's memory ruin this moment that she had craved for half her life. Unbidden, Zuko's conviction about Aang being around came back to her. Something defiant rose within her. So he was watching, was he? Well then, let him see. She would show him that he no longer controlled her life. She lifted her chin in determination and sat up straight.

"Katara?" Zuko asked with a frown. "Are you okay?"

"More than," she said and turned around. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she straddled him. "Don't worry about that. I want to do this. I… I want you."

Zuko gave a crooked smile, looped his fingers on her hair and pulled her to himself, kissing her. He held her against himself, lips still joined, as he pushed both to a kneeling position. She broke their kiss and pulled back. With the same care that he had employed while undressing her, she pulled his pants down, freeing his length. With slow, trembling hands, she ran her fingers along his member. She loved the way he hardened and shuddered at her touch. She curled her fingers along the girth to begin pumping. Stroke by stroke she increased the speed, keeping her eyes on his absolutely ecstatic expression. His eyes were closed, head thrown back while he moaned in delight. Grinning to herself, Katara lowered her head and closed her mouth on the tip.

Zuko let out a gagging sound as he bucked, "Oh Spirits! Katara! What… Oh my."

Loving every second of his reaction, Katara ran her tongue along his length. She took him in her mouth again and bobbed her head up and down. Zuko ran a hand through his hair, mumbling incoherently, as he panted. Suddenly he grabbed her and said, "Katara, stop. Stop. Love, please, stop."

She pulled away with a pop and looked up at him, "What? Did I do something wrong?"

"No. No. No," he pulled her close to him and kissed her on her lips. "I just was… I didn't want to come in your mouth. I want to be inside you when I do."

Katara felt a pleasant blush rise up her cheeks as she grinned. "Then what are you waiting for?"

He let out a sound that sounded like a growl, as he spun her around and fell on the bed. He tugged at her pantie, ridding her of the last bit of garment. "My turn," he said and before she could say anything, his lips covered the nub that lay nestled between her legs. His hot breath set the bundle of nerves on fire. Her back arched as she surrendered herself to the moment. But then, Zuko dipped his tongue inside her and Katara was gone. Stars winked in her vision. "Oh, Tui and La! Zuko!"

When he came back up, a fine sheen of sweat covered her body. He allowed his weight to come down on her, kissing her like she was the air he desperately needed. She tasted herself on his lips and mouth and realized that it was the most erotic moment of her life. He parted her legs with his knees and slid inside with ease. In that one moment, Katara knew she was home. They moved together in perfect synchronization till stars rained down on them.

When Zuko rolled off her to flop to the side, he lay a hand on her stomach. "Wow!"

Katara gave an exhausted chuckle, "That was quite something."

"Talk about ending the seven-year-long draught with a bang."

Katara gaped at him, "Seven years? You didn't… you were celibate for seven years?"

"I was," he replied. "Mostly for a political reason. I couldn't risk having a heir running around."

Katara nodded and snuggled closer to him, laying her head on his shoulder. "As unromantic the reason maybe, I still have a huge task in front of me."

He curled his hand, laying it on her shoulder, "Huh? What task?"

"I have to make up for seven years of your celibacy."

He chuckled, turned to face her and said, "Well, not that it's a competition, but I have you beat there."

"What? How so?"

"I have to make up for thirteen years of love," he ran a hand along her nose and said, "You know, Uncle often said, there is no joy like being loved by someone selflessly. No treasure more precious, no person more beautiful. I used to think I knew what it meant. But then, back at the cliff, I realized what the saying truly meant. I think it was at that moment that I fell for you."

Katara licked her lips and nuzzled into him, "I love you. I love you so much!"

"Keep saying it," Zuko said, "Because I intend to keep saying that I love you."

"I can't believe you're so sappy," she laughed, tapping his nose.

"You should talk to Izumi. This is her regular complaint," he laughed. "She calls me mushy dad."

Katara laughed, trailing a pattern along his chest, enjoying his firm muscles. Stuck by a sudden thought she looked up at him and said, "Zuko, this was not the first time some noble dangled their daughter or niece in front of you, was it?"

"No. My most memorable one was where this nobleman dressed his eleven-year-old daughter and brought her in front of me."

"Yikes! Did they leave the palace unscathed? You didn't burn them?"

"Uncle stopped me from that."

"Orula is fairly pretty," Katara said stretching her arms. "If you weren't married to me, you could have considered her."

Zuko snorted. "No. I would much rather marry the Unagi before I consider Zhao's daughter."

Katara laughed and was about to say something when Zuko turned her around and said, "The last thing I want to talk about now is some other woman. Not when I can make love to my woman."

Katara barely had the chance to gasp before his lips were on hers.

When Katara walked into her chamber next morning, she was surprised to find Toph sitting on her bed.

"Hey Sugerqueen."

"What are you doing here?" Katara took her place in front of the dresser and picked up a comb, undoing the tangles in her hair. She was not feeling particularly charitable to her friend at that moment. She knew that Toph, for her part, had tried to stop Sokka from saying the things he had said. But at that moment, she was still smarting from the pain that Sokka had inflicted on her and not happy with her friends and family.

"I'm here to apologize."

Katara's eyebrows rose and she stared at her friend through the mirror. "What? What exactly are you apologizing for?"

"Not for Snoozles' behavior, if that's what you're thinking. That's a stake he impaled himself upon. I ain't rescuing him from that."

"Then what exactly are you getting at?"

The Earthbender scratched her face with both her hands, then blew her bangs. "For not intervening when I should have."

Katara put the comb down and turned to look at her friend. "What are you talking about?"

"I knew that your marriage with Aang was not… the paradise everyone seems to think it was."

Katara stiffened, whishing Zuko was here with her. But he was at the training arena, far away from her. She gulped, trying to steady her wildly beating heart and said, "Toph, I … I don't want –"

"Please, Katara." Toph's voice was so small that Katara could not bring herself to ask her to shut up, as she had been planning to do in the first place. "I knew Aang thought that Bumi was not his."

Katara's eyes widened," What? How did you know that?"

Toph licked her lips and picked at a thread in her dress. "Judging from your tone, I realize the news in itself is not a surprise. Just the fact that I know it, is.

Katara walked over to the bed, both to take time to think and to have a more private conversation with Toph. She lowered herself on the bed, trying not to smile at the slight pain between her legs from too much sex last night. The two of them had practically been stuck to each other, unable to stay away for more than five minutes. Katara shook her head to focus on the conversation at hand. "Aang did tell me of his suspicions, yes."

"He thought the child was Sparky's, didn't he?"

Katara nodded, realizing that the overcoat she had taken from Zuko to cover herself was huge on her, falling off her shoulders.

"I know you're moving your head to say yes or no, but I can't see it."

Katara slapped a hand on her forehead. "Oh sorry. I forgot. Yes, yes he did think that."

"I'm guessing it's because Aang knew you loved Zuko?"

Katara wasn't surprised Toph knew it. "How long have you known it?"

"Since Western Air Temple," Toph replied softly. It was rather surprising that she was not gloating about her knowledge. "I was honestly very surprised when you began to date Aang. Or when Sparky went with Madam Sighsalot."

Katara gave a half-smile, "Zuko loved her."

Toph nodded, "Yes, but he had feelings for you too."

"I know," Katara said, "Anyway, it's all in the past. I want the bygones to stay bygones, Toph."

"Will you answer just one question of mine?"

Katara leaned back, resting on her palms, "Depends on the question."

"Yesterday, Zuko said that you both have always been loyal to your spouses, no matter what it cost. I have been thinking and I can come to only one conclusion of that statement. He was talking about you, wasn't he? Aang… he hurt you, didn't he?"

Katara took a deep breath, surprised to find that the words didn't twist her insides the way they would have mere fifteen days ago. It still hurt, but it was more of a dull throb and not the gut-wrenching agony that she had endured earlier. "Yes, Toph, he did."

Nothing in the world would have prepared Katara for what happened next. The Earthbender threw her arms around her neck and tackled her into a bone crushing hug. "I'm so sorry, Katara! I knew something was not right! I knew it! Damnit! But I didn't think it was so bad. I thought… I thought after I whupped his butt in that spar and made him apologize to the Air Acolyte."

Katara pried herself from the arms of the Earthbender and looked at her, "Wait, what are you talking about? He told that to an Air Acolyte? And when did you whup his ass?"

Toph gave a half-hearted smile. She lifted a pillow and put it on her knees, leaning her elbows on it. "Yes, he told an Air Acolyte about his doubts, the dumbass that he was. To be honest, I think that's how the entire rumor of your affair started. I'm fairly certain that Acolyte told the others and then, they told others. You know how it goes, right?"

"Yes," Katara bit the corner of her thumbnail, brows furrowed in thought. "I had a feeling that Aang was somehow responsible for it, but I didn't have any way to confirm it. But now, what you're saying, it makes sense."

Toph slapped a hand on her head and groaned, "Shit. I failed you, didn't I? I trusted Aang. I thought once I had given him a stern talking to, he'll behave. I didn't investigate further. When I was there for Kya's birth, I knew there was a tension between the two of you, but I let Sparky talk me out of it. Fuck. Why did I trust Aang over my own gut feeling? Oh Spirits! Why didn't I listen to what my instincts were telling me! You must hate me for this."

Katara frowned, trying to formulate a reply, "Can I be absolutely honest, Toph?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Sugarqueen. I owe that much to you."

"I don't hate you. I love you all too much to really hate any of you. But I am not happy with you all either. Your apology, though, does go a long way. A part of me does wonder what would have happened had you really caught on. Maybe I wouldn't have gone through what I did," Katara pinched the bridge of her nose. "But I have decided not to let my past weigh me down anymore. So… fuck it. I won't go down that 'what if' road. I'm happy with Zuko. I have three kids and a nation to take care of. I won't let Aang take that from me. So… yeah… I forgive you."

"You know, you're a bigger person than I am," Toph said. "I don't know if I could have done the same."

Katara stood up from the bed and stretched, "A lot of it has to do with Zuko. He's healing me. It's truly from him that I am getting this strength. He's the best thing that's happened to me."

Toph snorted, "You're so stupidly in love."

"Get out," Katara said laughing. "Idiot."

Her friend gave a mock-offended gasp, "You're kicking me out! Oh, the indignity."

"With those theatrical skills, you can look at a career in Ember Island Players if your Earth Bending School doesn't work."

"Oh I'd knock them off," Toph said grinning as she hopped off the bed.

"Now seriously, go. I have to get ready for court."

"Okay, okay, I'm off," she began to walk away when she paused at the door, turned and said, "You have some time before court starts, don't you?"

"Yes, but I have to bathe."

A downright devilish grin cracked her face when she said, "Sparky's headed this way. I am sure a Water Bender and a Fire Bender make for the greatest bathing experience. EVER."

"Go away!" Katara said, laughing.