The morning of the ball was a chaotic flurry of activity. Servants rushed to and fro, cleaning every corner of the palace, hanging decorations, and preparing the food and beverages for the evening. The band that was scheduled to play came early to set up and rehearse, the guards and soldiers were all furiously shining their armour, and Zuko's counsel had their hands full entertaining the guests who had already arrived, trying to keep them out of the way of the servants as they prepared. When Katara went down for breakfast, she found only Toph in the dining room, lounging with her feet up on the table and munching on her meal casually.

"Where is everyone?" Katara asked, used to seeing the majority of her friends every morning.

"Aang and Iroh are keeping guests busy, Suki and Ty Lee are meeting with some of the other Kyoshi Warriors who arrived this morning, Sokka and your dad said something about a meeting with some big shots from the Northern Water Tribe, and I haven't seen so much as a hint of Zuko. He's probably off being all… Fire Lordy. It's just you and me, sweetness."

Katara watched as Toph leaned forward and picked some dirt from her toenails, and she frowned. She knew Toph was only doing it to get a rise out of her, but it was disgusting nonetheless.

"Well as appetizing as it is to watch you pick at your feet, I think I might just skip breakfast anyway."

"It's a long way until dinner… you don't want to faint in the middle of the ball room, do you?"

Katara considered this, then reluctantly took a seat, picking at whatever food was furthest away from Toph's feet. She was feeling too anxious to be hungry, but she knew Toph had a good point, so she forced herself to eat something.

"Don't you have any preparations to make?" Katara asked, watching the Earthbender lounge back on her chair.

" know me, I don't care about all this fancy stuff. I'm just going to show up in what I'm wearing, eat some food, and laugh at all the preening idiots."

Katara cracked a smile. Some things never changed. "Is there anyone you know coming?"
Toph shrugged. "My parents."

"Oh! It's been quite a while since you saw them, hasn't it? Are you going to spend time with them?"

"I'm not sure. I mean, I'll talk to them if they come over to me, but I'm not exactly eager to go out of my way to see the people who tried to prevent me from having a life, and then tried to have me kidnapped when I refused to let them hold me back."

"...Fair enough."

Later in the afternoon, Katara wandered back up to her room to start getting ready. She drew a bath and soaked for a long time, washing her hair thoroughly with a sweet-smelling soap. Once she was done, she dried off and brushed the tangles out of her hair, then put on her underclothes and slipped a robe on overtop, lounging on her balcony until Akame arrived to help her get ready. She enjoyed the bright sun and hot weather in the Fire Nation, much to her surprise. A lot of the Water Tribe guests had been complaining about the heat, which was understandable considering how cold the North and South poles were. Katara attributed her acclimation to the fact that she had spent time in the Fire Nation before, as well as other places in the Earth Kingdom that were quite hot, so she knew what to expect.

When Akame arrived, she immediately started gossiping about all the arriving guests and the interesting tidbits of information that she had picked up. Katara marvelled at how much she knew, wondering how many of her own secrets the servants knew.

Akame sat Katara down at the vanity table and began brushing her hair, making it sleek and shiny before pulling the top layers up into a secure knot. She braided the rest of her hair in two equal parts, mimicking the hairstyle the shop woman had done the day before. Once her hair was secured and perfect, Akame slid the golden hairpin into the knot, letting the beads cascade over one side of her head. Next she stood before Katara, applying some makeup to her eyes and cheeks. She had been worried that Akame would apply too much and make her look over-painted, but when she caught her reflection in the mirror she was happy to see that Akame had applied just enough to highlight her features, including some black makeup that made her eyes pop and a slight shimmer of gold dusting across her cheeks, which gave her a warm glow.

"Wow, this looks really good," Katara said, turning her face to inspect herself from different angles.

"Thanks! I figured you would still want to look like you, so I just applied enough to make you really stand out."

"It's perfect. I almost never wear makeup, so I would have totally overdone it. Thank you!"

Akame bowed in response, then quickly smoothed out a few stray hairs and made sure everything was perfect before crossing to the wardrobe and pulling out Katara's gown. She helped her into the dress, adjusting the fabric so it flowed and cinched in all the right places, and then helped her secure the golden arm bands before stepping away with a grin.

"You look magnificent. You look like you could be the Fire Lady."

Katara gave her a suspicious look. "You're the second person who has said something like that…" she brushed her suspicion aside, and inspected herself in the mirror with a grin. "Thank you Akame… I could not have looked this amazing without you."

"I am happy to help. I don't get to do girly stuff like this very often, so it's nice to assist. Normally I just look after stuffy politicians."

Katara laughed. "I'm glad I could be more entertaining."

Akame grinned at her, then gave another bow. "Is there anything else I can do for you, or will you head down now?"

"No, I think that is all, thank you. It's getting dark, so the ball must have started by now, so I should head downstairs before all the food is gone," Katara joked.

"Then I will retire for the night. I hope you have a fabulous time!"

"Thanks Akame. For everything."

She gave one last bow, and then left the room, leaving Katara alone with the growing anxiety in the pit of her stomach. She waited a few minutes, forcing herself to take slow, calming breaths. It wasn't often that she attended such largely populated events, and even rarer that she claimed any attention at them. But she knew even if she had worn rags to the ball, people would know exactly who she was. This was an anniversary celebration after all, and as humble as Katara was about it, she was a war hero.

Finally feeling prepared, Katara left her room and headed down the hallway towards the staircase that led to the main floor. She could already hear the noise from the crowd, and she felt a mingled sense of anxiety and excitement. She descended the stairs and was immediately aware that several people had turned their eyes to watch her decent. She felt her cheeks warm, but held her head high, determined to enjoy the moment. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she spotted her father standing with Sokka and Suki, all of whom had their eyes fixed on her. She beamed at them, crossing through the crowd to join them.

"Katara?!" Sokka exclaimed, his mouth agape. "You look…"

"Like your mother," Hakoda finished for him, causing Katara to grin appreciatively.

"I'm so used to seeing you as my little girl, but you aren't a little girl anymore. You look beautiful," Hakoda added, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Thanks dad," she replied, beaming.

Suki gave her a quick hug, smirking slyly at her. "He is going to lose his mind," she whispered into Katara's ear.

She tried her best to ignore the comment, but a small part of her hoped Suki was right. Together they entered the ballroom, which was already crowded and bustling. Sokka immediately wandered off towards the food, and Hakoda crossed the room to speak to Master Pakku, who waved happily at Katara from across the room. She returned the greeting, then she and Suki made their way past the dance floor and into the crowd. They could see Toph off to one side laughing enthusiastically with King Bumi, and Ty Lee not far from where they stood, surrounded by a flock of men who were clamouring for her attention. Katara cast her gaze around the room and finally found who she was looking for. Zuko stood near the back of the ballroom, chatting with Iroh and three women who looked to be nobles from Ba Sing Se. The women were flirting quite obviously with Zuko, and Katara couldn't blame them. He was dressed in the finest robes of crimson with detailed brown and gold embroidery. His dark hair was pulled into a knot on the top of his head, pinned into place with the large golden flame that signified his title. He looked handsome, regal, and thoroughly uninterested in the advances of the women before him.
Katara stopped short at the sight of him, her heart pounding. Suki followed her gaze and smirked when she realized what had halted her, and she gave Katara a gentle pat on the shoulder. "He looks good, doesn't he?"

Katara blushed, tearing her gaze away from the Fire Lord. "Those women would agree, it seems."

"Like they have a chance," Suki snorted.

Katara glanced back at the group, taking a deep breath to try and steady her pounding heart. Suddenly Zuko looked up and caught her eyes with his. She saw his eyes widen slightly, and he stood transfixed, unable to tear his gaze from her. She smiled and gave him a small wave, suppressing a laugh as he broke into a boyish grin. Iroh seemed to realize that Zuko had checked out of the conversation entirely and looked up to him before following his gaze. When his eyes landed on Katara, his gaze turned to Suki and they exchanged mischievous smirks. Iroh turned back to the women and said something to them and then ushered them towards the dance floor, leaving Zuko standing alone. It took him a moment to realize he had been freed from the conversation, and when he finally did he immediately strode across the room towards Katara.

"I should leave you two alone," Suki said suggestively, before slinking away and disappearing into the crowd.

Zuko approached her in awe, looking as if he had just seen a spirit rise before him. She beamed; that had been the exact reaction she had been hoping for.

"Hi Zuko," she said as he stopped before her, keeping her voice casual.

"H-hi Katara…"

He was completely at a loss for words, and this only made her heart pound harder.

"Do you like my dress?" she prompted, amused by his lack of articulation.

"Yeah… it's beautiful. You're… you look…"

Before he could find the words he was searching for, a cold, stoic voice cut him off, sending a cold chill down his spine.

"Hello Zuko."

Mai stood before them, her arms crossed and a bored expression on her face. Her eyes however seemed to drill holes into the both of them.

"Mai… hi… how are you?" Zuko replied tensely, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Fine I suppose. So far this party has been a total bore, but I didn't really expect anything else."
Katara scowled at her, causing Mai to turn her attention to the Waterbender.

"Oh… you're that Water Tribe girl, aren't you? I almost didn't recognize you in such a fancy dress. You must be feeling like a fish out of water."

Zuko's expression darkened and he shot Mai a menacing look. She smirked, enjoying the fact that she had touched a nerve. "You keep such unusual company, Zuko."

"Not anymore," Katara replied darkly.

Mai picked up on the subtle jab, and narrowed her eyes dangerously at Katara. But before she could reply, Aang materialized out of the crowd and joined them, blushing slightly and looking sheepish. He seemed to be oblivious to the tense conversation he had just walked into, and greeted Mai casually before turning his attention to Katara.

"Hey Katara… I was wondering if maybe… you would dance with me?" he asked.

Katara was taken aback, and she stared at him incredulously. She had a sneaking suspicion this was an attempt to win her back, and it sent a feeling of dread through her. She looked to Zuko for help, but he appeared to be just as unsure how deflect the situation as she was. Finally she nodded, deciding that it might be a chance to at least repair their friendship.

"Sure Aang. Let's go."

His face lit up happily, and he grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the dancefloor. Katara looked back at Zuko who watched her retreat with a defeated expression. Mai tried to get his attention again, but he waved his hand dismissively and snapped something at her that Katara clearly understood as a request to leave him alone. Mai spat something at him, then stalked off into the crowd.

"You look so beautiful Katara," Aang said, pulling her attention back to him.

"Oh… thank you."

Aang stopped on the dancefloor and placed one hand on her waist, twirling her around the dancefloor. She reluctantly raised her free hand to his shoulder, falling in step with the Airbender.

"I'm sorry I've been avoiding you, by the way. I've really missed you," he said, casting her his best attempt at a charming smile.

"I understand Aang… I hurt you, and you needed some space. It makes sense."

"I'm glad. I hate not having you around."

Katara fought the urge to tell him that he was the one who was never around, but she bit her tongue.

"Can we at least be friends?" Aang added hopefully.

"Of course we can," Katara sighed. "I never wanted to stop being your friend."

He beamed at her, twirling around in circles as they danced.

"We'll be on Ember Island for a few days; no guards, no servants, so important people to impress. Just us and our friends. It will be a good opportunity for us to catch up," Katara said.

"Aah… yeah. About that…"

Katara narrowed her eyes and pulled back from him slightly. "Do not tell me you aren't coming."

"No I am! It's just… I might need to leave a bit early."

"How early?"

"Well… see… there's this festival happening the day after tomorrow, and-"

"You're going to spend one day with us?" Katara spat, pulling away from him and stopping dead in the middle of the dance floor.

Aang stopped and gave her a sheepish look, gesturing for her to calm down. But she was furious, and everyone in the immediate vicinity could tell.

"It's just that… I sort of promised…"

"No Aang, I don't want another excuse. You make all sorts of promises to everyone else, but never to your friends! All we get is excuses! This is the first time in five years that we have all been together, and we have barely seen you! And now you're saying you're going to ditch us after ONE day on Ember Island, when we are specifically going there so we can all have some time ALONE together?!" Katara shouted, advancing on him.

"Katara… I…"

"NO! I am DONE!"

She turned sharply and stormed off of the dance floor, making her way through the crowd, which parted for her without hesitation. She headed directly for the closest exit she could spot; two heavy doors that appeared to lead outside. She pushed one of the doors open and stalked through, finding herself on a large balcony that overlooked the garden. There were short staircases on either side of the balcony that led into the garden, but it appeared to be abandoned. The night was still young, and Katara assumed everyone was still in the mood to eat and dance before any nighttime strolls through the dark. That suited her just fine though; she preferred to be alone.

She leaned her elbows on the railing and looked out over the garden, still fuming. From where she stood she could no longer see inside the ballroom, but she could still hear the music in stark contrast to the silence of the garden below her. She gave a heavy sigh, fighting back the tears that stung her eyes. Suddenly the balcony door cracked open and a shadow moved across the beam of light cast out from the party inside. Katara looked over her shoulder, not in the mood for company, but immediately changed her mind when she saw Zuko step outside and close the door behind him. He gave her a small smile.

"Do you mind if I join you? Or would you rather be alone?"

"I never mind if you join me. We can be alone together, remember?" Katara replied, bringing a surprisingly shy smile to his face.

He walked over and leaned against the rail next to her, looking up at the stars twinkling above them. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "Are you okay?"

"Um… I'm not really sure, to be honest."

"What happened?" he asked, turning his eyes to hers.

"Aang said he missed me and wanted to be friends still, and then literally two seconds later he was telling me that he is going to spend one day with us on Ember Island before he takes off again. So… I lost it."

"Aah… I see. I can't say I blame you for losing it then."

"I'm… sorry that I caused a scene. I hope I didn't ruin the party," Katara said, suddenly feeling foolish for losing her temper in the middle of a crowded room.

"No, you didn't. I mean… yeah. You caused a bit of a scene," he replied, smirking at her. "But you didn't ruin anything. Honestly, the nobles and diplomats like to gossip, so if anything you just made their night."

"Oh great," Katara groaned, covering her face with her hands.

Zuko chuckled at her. "Trust me, they will only talk about how fierce you are. Usually you're so kind and friendly… I love it when you show your fierce side. I'm sure they all loved it too."

Katara blushed, but laughed. "I'm not sure if you're complimenting me, or making fun of me."

"What are friends for?" he replied, nudging her with his shoulder.

She shook her head, still smiling, and let out a little sigh. He always knew how to make her feel better, and she especially appreciated it now.

"Don't worry about Aang, okay? It's not your problem to fix, especially not now," Zuko said.

"Yeah, I know. I'm just so tired of having this conversation with him. I just don't get."

"You've had this conversation with him dozens of times, but have you ever yelled at him like you just did?"

She furrowed her brow at him, and shook her head. "No. He doesn't respond well to conflict."

"True… but you know Aang as well as I do. He always tries to gloss things over with humour or deflection and pretends that everything is completely fine. It's not until he is forced to confront an issue that he finally stops goofing off and faces the problem. Maybe you yelling at him will be the force he needed."

Katara pondered his words thoughtfully; he had a good point. She felt bad for screaming at him, especially in front of a bunch of other people, but it might have just been the kick he needed to realize that he was pushing his friends away.

The music drifting out from the ballroom changed, filling the quiet garden with a slow, romantic melody. Katara smiled and gently tapped her fingers against the railing in time with the music, enjoying the tune. Zuko watched her fingers for a moment, and then pushed away from the railing and held his hand out to her.

"Care to dance?"

Katara looked up at him, a blush creeping across her cheeks. "I would love to, but I don't know if I can face the crowd just yet."

"Who said anything about going inside?" he replied, flashing her a charming smirk.

Her blush darkened, but slowly she reached out and took his hand. He immediately pulled her in close, his hand flat against her lower back, fingers grazing her bare skin. His touch sent a shiver through her, making her feel dizzy. She placed her hand on his shoulder, and pulled their joined hands closer to her body, lacing her fingers through his with a sudden surge of bravery. He began to lead her along to the music, and she couldn't help but be impressed and a little surprised by his grace and skill. Dancing wasn't something she often imagined him doing.

He pulled her closer until there was barely an inch between them and locked his gaze on hers. Together they swayed to the melody, lost in each other's eyes. A heat grew between them, drawing them into each other and controlling their every move. Zuko slowly moved his hand up her back, letting his fingers gently graze her skin, and she responded by letting her own fingers graze the bare skin on the back of his neck. He bit his lip, attempting to keep his mind in control, but it was to no avail. He pulled her against him, causing her to clutch the fabric of his shirt between her fingers and let out a small sigh. He leaned in close; Katara could feel his breath on her lips, making them tingle with anticipation.

Suddenly the balcony door opened; the cacophony of the ballroom crashed in around them, bringing them back to reality with a shock. They jumped apart, both flushing deep crimson as they turned to see who had intruded on their privacy. Suki stood frozen, staring at the two of them with a mixed expression of amusement and regret. She was clearly sorry for interrupting whatever it was she had just walked in on.

"H-hey Suki! Are.. are you enjoying the party?" Zuko stammered, trying and failing to act casually.

"So far, yeah. It's been pretty fun. Are you having a good time?" she replied, unable to resist teasing him.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah… it's… been… pretty good."

Suki had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing. After a moment she managed to suppress it, but she couldn't help but send a suggestive look towards Katara, who shot back an irritated look.

"I just came to see if Katara was okay. Also, Iroh was looking for you, Zuko. I didn't realize you were out here too."

"Yeah… I was checking on her too. Ah… I'm… going to go find my uncle," Zuko replied, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. He turned to Katara, avoiding her gaze. "I'll see you inside."

She nodded, then he strode past Suki and bolted back into the ballroom. The two women stood in silence for a moment, then Suki moved swiftly to Katara's side and grabbed her hands in hers.

"Okay, spill. What the heck did I just interrupt? And I am SO sorry about that, by the way."

"I… I'm not sure. He came out to check on me and we were talking… and then he asked me to dance."

"You were dancing… alone in the garden?" Suki said, grinning widely.

"Yeah… but then… I don't know. Something changed, and… I think… I think he was going to kiss me."

Suki let out an excited squeal that strongly reminded her of Ty Lee, and Katara couldn't help but laugh.

"See? I knew it! I could kick myself for interrupting…"

"I don't know… maybe it was a good thing you did. We keep having these strange little moments, and I've been starting to feel like… like I want something more. But I don't want to ruin my friendship with Zuko. He is one of the most important people in my life and I would be miserable if something happened to ruin what we have. Look at what happened with Aang; I haven't spoken to him in a year, and then I turn around and scream at him in the middle of a crowd. My heart would break entirely if that happend with Zuko and I."

Suki gave her an incredulous look, then rolled her eyes. "Katara. Did you want him to kiss you just now?"

"...Y-yes," Katara replied, blushing.

"And you have felt this way with him before?"

"Yeah…"

"And you are attracted to him and feel like you want more than just friendship?"

Katara hesitated. The truth had been sinking in for some time, but after what had just passed between her and Zuko, she knew without a doubt that she was falling for him, or perhaps already had.

"Katara?"

She looked at Suki nervously, touching her fingers to her lips and thinking of how they had nearly met his.

"Do you think you are falling in love with Zuko?"

"I… yes," she breathed, the answer suddenly clear.

Suki grinned at her, then smacked her on the arm.

"OW! Suki, what was that for?"

"Stop being a coward! If you are falling for him and you want to be with him, then TELL him that. I am positive that he feels the same way, and even if for some bizarre reason he didn't, I know your friendship will survive it because it has already survived everything else. Or did you forget that you went from hating him and being enemies to being best friends and loving each other? Or that he nearly died to save your life, and then you saved his in return? Or that you were both there for each other through your miserable relationships and subsequent breakups? The kind of bond you two have can't be easily broken."

Katara let her words sink in, considering them carefully. She was right of course; regardless of how she felt about Zuko now, she already knew that she had loved him as a friend for many years. There was no point in wallowing in the unknown; it would be better for the both of them if she just told Zuko how she felt and went from there. Either he would reciprocate her feelings, or he would gently let her down. But she had no doubt that they would remain friends either way.

"You're right Suki. I have been a coward… but not anymore."

Suki grinned at her. "Good. Because this 'will they, won't they' thing is getting old."

Katara laughed and rolled her eyes. She looped her arm through hers, and together they walked back into the ballroom to rejoin the party.

The rest of the evening passed with far less excitement, but overall it was an enjoyable night. Katara had tried to get Zuko alone again, but once they had all re-entered the ballroom they kept finding themselves pulled in different directions. She did notice however that his eyes followed her wherever she happened to be, striking further confidence within her. She had noticed that Aang had gone back to avoiding her, but she was glad for it as she was still quite furious at him. He seemed to be less upset though, as a group of young women had flocked to him and now appeared to be lending a sympathetic ear. If she hadn't been so angry at him, she would have found it amusing.

The crowds eventually began to thin as the night grew later, and around midnight there was only a small fraction of the guests left in the ballroom. Katara had run into Haku and had spent a solid hour catching up with him by the time she realized how late it had gotten, and after saying goodbye to him she wandered back through the nearly empty ballroom looking for her friends. She spotted Ty Lee in the corner flirting with a boy from the Northern Water Tribe, and was surprised to see Iroh still chatting away near the buffet tables. But it seemed everyone else had trickled off to bed, and she was hit with a wave of disappointment.

She wandered over to Iroh, who looked up at her with a warm smile as she approached.

"Katara! You're still here. You look radiant, by the way," he said, slurring his words slightly.

"Thank you Iroh," she replied, smirking at the drunken General. "I was just wondering if you had seen Zuko?"

He gave her a sly look. "He left for his room about ten minutes ago. He was actually looking for you for a while, but said he couldn't find you."

"Oh…" she said, disappointed. "I was sitting out in the hall catching up with a friend."

Iroh leaned in and patted her arm gently. "He's probably still awake," he said low so only she could hear.

Katara blushed and looked down at him in surprise, but he merely winked at her jovially. He had a point though; if Zuko had only left recently, he was probably still up. If she snuck up to his room, he would probably be willing to go for a walk or something.

"I'm… going to go to bed. Have a good night Iroh."

"Goodnight Katara," Iroh replied, grinning knowingly.

She made her way out of the ballroom and into the hall, which was still fairly crowded with people saying goodbye to one another. She squeezed past them and down another hallway towards a staircase that led to the guest wing. She wasn't sure how to get to the royal suites from the first floor, but she could retrace her steps from the guest wing. It took her a few minutes to figure out which hallways and stairs she needed to take, but she quickly found herself in a familiar hallway and she strode down to the end of the hall, stopping at a door near the end. She hesitated briefly, hoping she wasn't about to make a huge mistake, and then knocked.

Zuko had gotten out of his robes and let his hair down, setting his crown down on a nearby table. He had slipped into red silk pants and threw a matching robe on, leaving it hanging open, letting his body cool off after having spent the evening in a hot, crowded ballroom. He was just about to turn down his blankets when there was a sudden knock at his door. He looked up curiously, wondering who could possibly be visiting at such a late hour. He strode over to the door and opened it, stunned to silence when he saw who was waiting on the other side.

Katara's breath caught when she saw him, and she let her eyes travel over his bare chest for a moment, biting her lip as a sudden heat rose within her. Finally Zuko managed to regain his composure, and he glanced down the hall to check to make sure there were no guards or servants nearby.

"Katara… I thought you had gone to bed."

"Not yet," she replied, her gaze following his, now paranoid that someone would walk around the corner and catch them.

Zuko stepped back from the doorway allowing her room to pass and gestured for her to come inside. She slipped through the door and entered his room, turning back to face him as he closed the door.

"What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" he asked, turning his eyes to hers.

"Everything is fine," she replied, stepping towards him. "I… I just came to finish what Suki interrupted earlier."

Zuko's eyes widened slightly, and he let out a small breath. "Wha-"

Before he could ask the question, Katara closed the distance between them, pinning Zuko against the door and pressing her lips to his. He was stunned, but after a moment his eyes slid closed and he returned the kiss, bringing his hands up to her waist. The kiss was brief, and when Katara pulled back she did so with great effort, but she needed to know for sure that they wanted the same thing.

He gave her a boyish smile as their eyes met, letting his hands linger on her waist. "Well… that is quite a finish."

Katara giggled, her cheeks turning pink. She let her hands trail down his chest, her fingers gently caressing the scar from where he had taken Azula's lightning for her. He had been willing to die to save her, and she gladly would have done the same for him. Perhaps this was a long time coming after all.

"I have been thinking about doing that all night," she confessed, smiling shyly.

"I have too. I've been thinking about it for a while, actually." Zuko brought one hand up to her face, stroking her cheek gently with his fingers. "I never did get to tell you how I thought you looked tonight, did I? Though to be honest, I don't think a single word exists to appropriately describe how beautiful you are… not just tonight, but every single day. Though I will admit that this dress makes you look… ethereal."

Katara blushed furiously, but she couldn't help being impressed. "I had no idea you were such a romantic."

"You bring it out in me," he replied with a shrug. "I… I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, Katara."

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you either," she breathed.

"Well… in that case…" Zuko moved suddenly, pulling her into him and capturing her lips with overwhelming urgency.

His hands moved their way across her back, sending little shockwaves through her body. She moved her hands up into his hair, grasping it as she pulled him deeper into the kiss. She felt a heat rising from within her; a burning desire that she found impossible to ignore. She wanted him, all of him, and she could tell by the way his body pressed into hers that he wanted her too.

Before Katara could decide whether or not to succumb to her desire, Zuko broke the kiss, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. He rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath.

"Will you… stay with me tonight?" he whispered, holding her close.

She smiled and bit her lip, letting her fingers run through his soft hair. "You want me to stay?"

"Yes. I… I won't ask anything more of you… I just… waking up next to you the other day was so amazing, and I have missed you every morning since."

"There you go again with the romance," Katara joked, smiling happily. "I would love to stay with you. I might need something to sleep in though… this dress won't make a very comfortable nightgown."

Zuko lifted his head and grinned down at her before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'm sure I have something."

Reluctantly he pulled away from her and crossed the room, pulling open his wardrobe. Katara watched him as he sifted through it, touching her tingling lips with a smile. She felt as if her heart was about to burst out of her chest, and though she had suspected that Zuko might have returned her feelings, she was still elated that he did with such immediate enthusiasm. She couldn't help but be amused by the fact that he had been pining for her too, and wondered when his feelings had started to change.

Finally Zuko pulled out a long, linen tunic in a deep burgundy, and seemed to find it satisfactory. He returned to her and handed it over with a light blush.

"I hope this will do," he said sheepishly.

Katara held it against herself; it had short sleeves and fell about halfway down her thighs. It was still a little short for her liking, but it was soft and would be comfortable to wear.

"This is great, thank you."

He nodded, then bit his lip, looking awkward. "I'll um… let you change."

He turned his back and walked over to his desk. He sat down and busied himself by doodling idly on a blank piece of parchment, trying to distract his mind from the fact that Katara was undressing behind him. She watched him for a moment, feeling heat rise in her cheeks, and then removed her belt and armbands, setting them on a nearby table. She lifted her dress up over her head, carefully folding it as best as she could before setting it with the accessories. She didn't know why she was so nervous; she was only in her underclothes, and Zuko had seen her wearing this little before. She supposed the difference was now she wanted him to see her, and she wanted him to find her attractive.

Katara slipped Zuko's tunic over her head, noticing with a smile just how much it smelled like him, then removed her hairpin and unbraided her hair, letting it fall loose around her shoulders. There wasn't much she could do about the makeup on her face, but it was minimal anyway so she just left it. She piled all of her things on the table, then walked over to Zuko and leaned against the desk. He looked up at her and bit his lip, fighting the urge to pull the tunic right off of her again. He stood up, eyes fixed on hers, then reached out and gently ran his fingers through her hair. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. He couldn't help himself. He closed the distance between them and kissed her hard, letting his passion take over. She didn't seem to mind, and threw her arms around him, returning the kiss with equal fervor.

They moved towards the bed, hardly conscious of anything but each other. Zuko's hands glided over her hips towards the bottom of the tunic then made their way underneath, his warm hands on her bare skin. He grasped her waist and pulled her into him greedily, moving against her in a way that sent a jolt through her body. A small moan escaped her lips and she grasped his hair tightly. Katara felt the back of her legs hit the mattress, and together they fell onto the bed. She wrapped her legs around his hips as he began kissing his way across her neck and collarbone. He quickly pulled off his robe, tossing it to the floor before running his hands up her legs and back under the tunic, and she arched her back at his touch, aching for him to be closer.

She whispered his name and he hesitated, as if she had called his mind back into focus. He locked his gaze on hers, and with every ounce of his willpower, he slowly removed his hands from under the tunic.

"This is too fast," he breathed, his voice shaking from restraint. "I really don't want to stop, but I also don't want to move to fast and mess things up with you."

Katara nodded in agreement, though the look in her eyes suggested otherwise. "You're right… I wish you weren't, but you're right. Let's just get some sleep and tomorrow we can figure everything out."

Zuko let out a small sigh, untangling himself from her limbs and laying down next to her. He pulled the blankets up over them, and then pulled her into his arms, kissing her gently on the forehead. She smiled happily and wrapped her arms around him in return, her mind still dizzy and her body still craving his.

"Goodnight Katara."

She gave him a quick squeeze, burying her face against his chest, listening to his heart beat.

"Goodnight."