So sorry for the long wait, guys! I had a lot going on for a while there. Back at it!

-Katara-

Was that a footstep?

Katara stiffened under the covers, curling her toes with anticipation. Her heart had been racing ever since she'd slid into bed, knowing without a doubt that Zuko would find her tonight. She held her breath to listen.

Nothing. Katara relaxed a bit. She was on edge, but not because of Zuko.

I can't believe he kissed me.

How could Aang do that to her? Didn't he care about her feelings? He'd just taken what he wanted, no thought to whether it was what she wanted. Right after she'd said she didn't know. I don't know is not yes!

Granted, he didn't know her heart was otherwise engaged. But that shouldn't matter. He'd pushed her, and she felt it. Down to her core.

She knew Zuko would be angry. Furious, probably. Katara could only feel sadness, or maybe disappointment, with some regret in the mix. Aang's sulky behavior tonight had left her with little doubt - when the truth came out, it would be awful. She'd known that before, of course. It just felt more real now. A certainty, instead of some eventual, hazy incident.

They couldn't go on like this for much longer.

Katara sat up, throwing the sheets off her body. Zuko was taking forever. Everyone had been in bed for hours now, but she couldn't imagine that he'd fallen asleep. The look in his eyes when he'd said he wouldn't forget made her sure of that.

She crossed the room on silent feet, slid open the door… and there he was. As if conjured by her thoughts alone.

Zuko didn't speak. It was difficult to decipher his expression in the semi-darkness. Moonlight poked through here and there, enough for her to see his tousled hair, his ruffled clothes, but his face was in shadows.

She stood aside to let him through and closed the door. The soft click of the latch was deafening in the quiet room.

"Zuko?" Katara whispered, but he was already pulling her into his arms. She buried her face in his neck, relieved. He smelled like salt and smoke and something else - that piquant scent she could never quite identify.

"Hi," he breathed, squeezing her gently. "I'm glad today's over."

"No kidding." She spoke the words into his skin.

"Hmm…" Zuko slid a hand up her arm, over her shoulder, and cupped her chin. He tilted her face up and dropped a kiss on her nose. Katara knew he was buttering her up, but spirits help her if it wasn't working. "So, what happened?"

She didn't bother pretending not to know what he was talking about.

"Please don't freak out, okay?" Katara searched his face, inches from hers. Despite his sweetness, she could sense the tension in his body. He was more agitated than he was letting on.

Zuko hesitated, and she wondered if he didn't already know, instinctively, what she was about to say. "I promise."

"He kissed me." Katara held her breath as Zuko's grip tightened, the muscles in his neck suddenly standing at attention.

"I knew it," he growled, letting go of her, pacing around the room like a caged animal. His hands were in fists. "I knew it." He was looking everywhere but at her.

"Zuko, breathe," Katara pleaded. "It won't happen again."

"It shouldn't have happened at all!" He snapped. "Why didn't you stop him?"

"I didn't know he was going to do it until he did it, or I would have! What, you don't trust me?" Katara struggled not to let her tone become scathing. She couldn't spend her whole life throwing his mistakes in his face.

Zuko came to a slow halt and put his hands on his hips, taking deep, steadying breaths. Katara felt regret creeping into her heart. I shouldn't have said that.

"I'm sorry. I do trust you." He looked at her, his voice low and miserable. "I'm a little upset."

"I'm sorry, too," Katara said. "Aang doesn't understand." She crossed her arms, wishing Zuko would come hold her again.

"Yeah." Zuko sighed in frustration. "It has nothing to do with me, as far as he knows."

"For now," she reminded him.

"For now," he agreed wearily. His shoulders were slumped, his head heavy. He looked so disheartened. Katara couldn't help crossing the room, throwing her arms around him, seeking comfort and offering it. He crushed her to him with a slightly desperate edge, and her heels left the ground. His shaky breath tickled on the skin of her neck.

"It's okay," Katara murmured, almost crooning. "Everything's okay." She stroked his hair, combing her fingers through the silken strands.

"Right," Zuko whispered. He didn't sound very convincing.

"Hey," Katara leaned back, curved her hands around his face. She wished she could see his eyes clearly. "It will be okay."

"Probably."

"Zuko…" Katara trailed off threateningly.

"Definitely." He was smiling a bit, now.

Her hands moved without her permission, locking around his neck. Her heart was suddenly pounding, out of nowhere, for no reason. Well, one reason.

Katara pulled his head down and surrendered to her craving. Sweet relief washed over her, as if his lips on hers somehow had its own kind of healing power.

Who knew that one day she'd need another person's touch like she needed the air in her lungs? It was completely irrational, but how else to describe the way Zuko made her feel? She wanted more. Every inch of his body. Every corner of his mind. There was so much about him that she didn't know, so many things she still wanted to ask, if only they had the time. They were stuck. Condemned to secret, stolen moments where everything they'd been pushing down came rushing out in a way that couldn't possibly be healthy.

Zuko's hands had been hard and insistent a second before, but they suddenly gentled. As if he'd been reading her mind, his lips softened, grew languid. She allowed her hands to trace the shape of his shoulders, to slide down the length of his arms and catch hold of his fingers. They weren't lost in a passionate frenzy now. It was a kiss of discovery, of connection.

Katara felt tears pricking at her eyes. There was something so intimate about the sound of his breath catching in his throat, the way his lips brushed hers with dizzying friction. She squeezed his fingers, and he squeezed back. Warmth blossomed in her chest, spreading to the tips of her toes, darkening her cheeks.

Love, the Toph in her mind whispered. You're in love, moron.

Katara giggled, and Zuko stilled.

"Something's funny?" He queried.

"I really can't explain," Katara replied, her voice strangled.

"Can you try?" Zuko splayed a burning hand across her back. Her heart skipped a beat as he pulled her tight against him, their faces inches apart.

Katara took a deep breath. It only made her dizzier.

"Umm…" She blinked, trying to focus. "I just… realized something."

"What did you realize?" His other hand glided up the slight swell of her hip, curving around her bottom. She choked on another giggle. Get it together, she told herself sternly.

"What, Katara?" Zuko purred into her ear. Desire swept over her skin in a hot, prickly wave, and the urge to burst into laughter instantly disappeared.

"I'm happy," she said softly, grasping his arms for support. She couldn't think of anything more coherent to say. Should she admit what she really felt? "You make me happy."

"Really?" Zuko pulled back. He seemed to stare at her face for a moment, and then he lifted his hand from her waist. A tiny, dancing flame sprang up in his palm.

The sudden light illuminated the air between them, and Katara lost track of everything else. She searched his face like she hadn't seen it in days, her heart spluttering at the look in his eyes. Sometimes they were flat and impenetrable, but right now they melted, they glowed. Liquid gold.

"Zuko..." She touched his face, moved by what she saw there. He covered her hand with his, his lips slightly open as if he wanted to say something. She remembered how vulnerable he'd been when he'd admitted that he missed her. How he seemed to be already looking at her every time she chanced a glance at him. He'd been there for her in the search for her mother's killer, and he'd been there for her when they were looking for her father, and he was here right now, standing in front of her with a hint of pain in his features. She couldn't stand it. It wasn't right. He was amazing, and he deserved better. More.

"I love you."

Katara's mouth dropped so fast she almost dislocated her jaw – she couldn't help her dumbfounded expression any more than he could help immediately flushing a deep, crimson red.

"Oh, you're upset?" Zuko croaked, looking like he wanted to vanish on the spot. Katara was already shaking her head and waving her hands, trying to stop him from saying anything, mortification replacing her shock.

"No! No," Katara said emphatically. She took his hands, holding tightly. "No."

"Then what?" He was avoiding her gaze.

"You…" Katara laughed a little, tearing up again. "You took the words right out of my mouth."

"What?" Zuko snapped back to her face.

"You heard me," she grinned, enjoying his reaction immensely. He loved her and she loved him. All seemed right with the world.

"Say it." Zuko circled her waist with his free hand. A slight smile curved his lips, like he didn't really believe her.

"I love you," Katara complied, the levity suddenly leaving her. She practically glared into his eyes, willing him to feel it, know that she meant it. Maybe it was crazy, maybe they were moving too fast… but Toph had been right before. What if they never got another chance? What if he was gone and she'd never put words to how much she really, truly, deeply cared for him? If anyone deserved to know he was loved, it was Zuko.

His eyes glimmered as he watched emotions play across her face. She brushed his hanging hair back, traced her fingers along the rough edge of where his eyebrow should have been. At some point, she'd stopped noticing his scar as something separate from him. He was more than a scar. More than his past.

"I love you," she whispered again, and a teardrop splashed into her palm. She didn't know what else to say. Something about his expression made her want to move as carefully as possible. As if the air itself was breakable.

"Katara."

He said her name like a benediction, and she wanted to answer his prayer. Katara leaned in to catch his lips once again, and the flame cupped in his hand went out. They slowly inched towards the bed. When the back of Zuko's knees butted against it, he allowed her to push him down, and she stepped into the cradle of his legs. The burning intensity he usually exuded was gone. His hands were at his side, head tilted back as they softly kissed.

The artlessness of his surrender was shocking. For the first time, Katara was the leader. She hesitantly grasped the hem of his shirt, tugged it over his head, skimmed her hands over his scorching skin. Zuko leaned back, propping himself up on his hands. He sighed contentedly.

The emotions rushing through her were almost incapacitating. She wanted him to look this weightless at all times, to know that he was special. Accepted. Cherished.

Katara dropped to her knees, with only the tiniest inkling of what she was doing as she slid her hands up his thighs. She vividly remembered the feel of his lips, and his tongue, the absolute bliss of being pleasured that way. She wanted to make him feel that too.

"What are you-?" Zuko whispered, but she'd already begun to trail kisses down his stomach. His entire body tensed, the hard line of his erection swelling against her chest. Desire thundered through her veins, and it was with clumsy fingers that she yanked his waistband down.

Zuko's breathing hitched when she cautiously wrapped a hand around him, and he let out a quiet moan as she explored with a feather-light touch. It was so much hotter, and harder, and silkier than she'd expected. Her face burned as she remembered how it felt inside her, how he'd stoked the fire in her with each movement. Part of her wanted to jump right to the main course, but the noises coming from the back of his throat were filling her with a sense of power hitherto unknown.

"You like this?" She gently squeezed, and his hips jerked forward.

"Yes," Zuko gasped.

"Hmm…" Katara eyed him, rubbing her thumb along the unbelievably smooth skin. She felt wetness at the tip, and it was with fascination that she touched a finger to it.

Zuko cried out, his body tensing, but Katara kept one hand firmly clasped on his thigh, holding him down. With a frantically thumping heart, she took the leap and flicked her tongue over the same spot, surprised by the strong, salty taste.

Zuko moaned, fisting his hands around the blankets. "Katara."

"What?" Katara murmured, her lips brushing against him. Their eyes met, and she blushed furiously. There was something so intimate about looking at his face while feeling his cock flex in her hand. Their activities seemed to escalate with each stolen night. It was hard to imagine anything more scandalous than this, but she'd thought that all the other times, too!

One of Zuko's hands wrapped around hers, the one that was wrapped around him. Applying gentle pressure, he showed her how to stroke him, and she quickly caught on. His breath turned into a heavy pant, his hand slipping away as his head lolled back. A pink tinge stained the snowy white skin of his throat, creeping up onto his face.

Slowly, steadily, she pumped him, and his hips jerked with each motion. His leg muscles were taut lines of steel. Katara had never seen him like this. She couldn't do much more than stare up at him, entranced, heat rolling through her body in blistering waves. I'm making him feel this way. Me.

Katara flicked her tongue over the tip again. Zuko moaned, loudly, losing whatever self-control he'd had left.

"Shh," she whispered, her lips already exploring his silky skin. He was trembling, muscles locked, as she slid his cock into her mouth. She immediately knew she'd done the right thing. Zuko's body arched, a needy growl escaping his lips. She could barely hold him down as he began to thrust without restraint. Her cheeks hollowed as she swirled her tongue around him. It was a hot, slick mess, naughty, sinful… delicious.

"Katara," Zuko had managed to focus on her, his expression dazed with passion. His cock slid from her mouth with a quiet pop! and Katara gasped for air, continuing to caress him.

"How was that?" She asked breathlessly. Zuko stared at her face, taking in her wet, swollen lips, her flushed cheeks. His erection jutted between them, still hard as a rock.

He made a strangled noise, yanking her up off her knees. Katara's stomach flip-flopped, her brain trying to catch up as she suddenly found herself on her back in bed, every inch of Zuko's body pressing insistently against hers. He kissed her with bruising force, his tongue tangling with hers as his hands tore at her clothing. When they were skin to skin, he slid an arm behind her neck, binding her to him. Her nails dug into his back, trying to bring him closer. She could feel the heat of his cock against her inner thigh. Katara whimpered. What was he waiting for?

Zuko lightly sucked at the crook of her neck, trailed kisses across her face until their lips met again. He shifted his hips and sank into her with one slow, rolling motion. Katara moaned against his mouth.

Zuko set the pace. Slow and steady, just the way she'd done to him. Katara writhed, she arched her hips, she gasped needily in his ear, but he kept up his maddening rhythm. He left her no choice.

"That's it," Katara said, bracing herself. Clutching his shoulders for all she was worth, she managed to clumsily flip them over.

"Ohh," she breathed, feeling him slip even deeper inside her. She sat up. Zuko lay beneath her, his expression torn between arousal and amusement. His hands grasped her hips, his grip iron. Slowly, he moved her up and down, back and forth. Katara swayed, her breathing ragged. This wasn't the plan. Hadn't she meant to do something?

"Faster," Katara demanded, arching her back. Zuko gazed up at her, his eyes burning.

"Or what?" He practically purred.

"Zuko…" She'd tried to sound stern, but it came out as more of a whine. He'd abruptly sheathed himself completely within in her, causing her to shudder with pleasure.

"Oh, spirits, Katara," Zuko whispered, his eyes still on her face. "You have no idea."

"No idea…what?" She asked dazedly.

"You're perfect."

And finally, he gave her what she'd been begging for.