In the coming weeks before Christmas break, Zuko and Katara spent more time together. He'd come over for a movie night and they would 'practice' cuddling on the couch. At first it was stiff and awkward, but after some time they relaxed into it. (Toph's teasing never relented.) In time it was almost…natural.

The couch was where they were now, safe from the blowing wind outside.

"Let's go on a date."

Katara blinked, looking up from her calculus problems. Her feet laid across his lap as he read a book— Love Amongst the Dragons, she knew it was his favorite play.

"I'm sorry?"

Zuko pushed her feet off. "Yeah. Let's take the PDA to the actual public for dating practice. You need a break from numbers anyways."

She looked down at her calculus study guide. She had been working on it for a good two hours and she still wasn't sure if any of her answers were actually right. She hoped the actual final would go better.

"Yeah, okay." She shoved the many notebooks onto her coffee table. "But do I have to look nice?"

Her leggings and Ba Sing Se University sweatshirt were comfy and changing was such a hassle.

"You always look nice. Let's just go get something to eat." Zuko guided her to the door as her face flushed.

She shuffled her feet into her warm moccasins. "I definitely do not look nice, but thanks anyways. Where do you wanna go?"

Zuko rolled his eyes at her but didn't push the disagreement further as he shrugged into his coat. "Aunt Wu's diner?"

"She teases us enough as it is, and you want to go in there holding hands?"

He threw up his hands, "Okay, what's your idea then?!"

She pursed her lips before shooing him out the door. "No, now I want pancakes. We'll just have to deal with it."

And deal with it they did.

Aunt Wu practically squealed when they walked into the diner arm-in-arm, stomping the snow from their shoes. "If it isn't my favorite love birds! Braving the cold to have a lunch date?"

Zuko sighed, "Yes, Aunt Wu. Is our booth open?"

"Right this way, dearies."

They followed her to the back of the diner where it was warmer. Sure enough their favorite place to sit was open. They climbed into the booth and shrugged off their coats.

"Usual orders?" Aunt Wu asked them, scurrying off when they both nodded. She was back shortly to fill their coffee cups before leaving again.

Katara pulled the hot mug close to her, relishing in the warmth as she wrapped her fingers around it.

"I would have thought you'd like the cold, being from the South Pole and all," Zuko chuckled.

She shivered, "I actually despise it."

"It's summer there now though, right?"

Katara felt the corner of her mouth tilt up. "You'll see exactly what summer at the South Pole is like soon enough. Here's a hint: pack warm."

Zuko laughed, his eyes shining, "So there's still snow? That'll be nice."

"Nice?" she sputtered. "Nice would be tropical beaches!"

He shrugged, "I grew up on tropical beaches. It's always hot. It's always wet. Moving to Ba Sing Se was the first time I've ever seen snow."

Katara blinked at that. "Really?"

"Really, really." Zuko nodded. "I don't know if I'd say I enjoy the cold, but it's definitely a new experience."

She smirked, "You haven't felt cold yet. Wait til we get home, you'll freeze your ass off and want to fly back to a beach pronto."

Zuko laughed, "Maybe so, but first I want to experience all the stuff! Like sleigh riding or snow ball fights."

Katara thought those were quite childish things, but she wasn't going to say that. After all, he looked so excited. "Okay. We can do all the fun winter things when we get there."

It wasn't until their food arrived that Katara noticed they somehow had joined hands across the table. 'Dating' Zuko was a little too easy.