She didn't know how she even managed to unlock her door, her mind was spinning, hazy with lust as Zuko nipped her bottom lip. With a moan his warm tongue entered her, and a battle ensued. She gripped his long hair, euphoric that she was finally able to do so. They moved together into her room and somewhere she registered Zuko slamming the door shut. The loud sound halted them, and she pulled away slightly. His lips were swollen, his eyes dark with lust and face serious. He appeared to be consumed by her.

He released a deep raspy sound. "Are you ok?" She nodded and hardly had time to give her own breathless response before her lips were captured again. He was full of purpose, even rougher than before and she loved every second of it. Nobody had ever kissed her like this, and she knew then and there that it was addicting. How had they even functioned before? How had they survived together without kissing? It seemed inconceivable. Her hands that had been tangled firmly into his long, luscious locks, now travelled to his neck as his own hands travelled down her body, gripping her hips. He kissed her exposed neckline. She let out a gasp of pleasure and felt his grin on her skin.

"I've been waiting so long to hear that sound." He mumbled softly. She breathed a heartly laugh as he pushed her closer to him, nipping her collarbone.

"Mhmmm… me too Zuko. I never knew kissing someone would feel so great… so right…" Suddenly he stilled completely and pulled away. She almost groaned at the loss of contact. "Never? You… you and… and Aang," he choked out his friends' name. "You never did… this?" Katara didn't think she would ever turn redder than at this very moment.

"Well…no. Never like this. He wasn't 18 yet and we both agreed it was better until we were both of age…" She swallowed heavily, looking at his wide golden eyes and his own red cheeks. "Is… is it a problem?"

He let out a hoarse laugh, pushing a lock of hair behind her and softly took hold of her hand. "Problem? Spirits Katara, no, of course not." He brought her hand to his lips. "But I want to make sure you feel comfortable. That you feel ready to be… with me?" She couldn't help the shiver of excitement and nerves that travelled through her. His eyes were searching hers, and in response, she lay her hand on his scarred cheek.

"If I didn't feel ready, we wouldn't be here. I want to be here with you Zuko. I… I want you."

Something seemed to shift inside him. Gone was the awkward teenager she had befriended. Gone was the unsure young man, that had been buried by heavy responsibilities and afraid of making mistakes. No, when she uttered does words to him, he changed. He kissed her fiercely and earnestly, and she could feel it. In front of her was an unapologetic confident man that loved her. He didn't even have to say it, for she felt it with her entire being. Love. They loved each other. Perhaps even longer than they could admit to. And now they could show it. Katara opened to his touch and kissed him back with equal vigour and enthusiasm.

They moved back and reached her bed. His large warm hands found the tie holding her outer robe together. A hard thug and the fabric fell away, revealing her underdress. Pleasure brewed in her stomach as his eyes travelled over her. It emboldened her own resolve and she reached for the nearest thing her hands could find, his belt, and tugged it loose. That earned her a wicked grin.

Zuko threw back his shoulders and his outer robe fell to the ground with a thud. She bit her lip in frustration seeing all the many layers and armoured additions that seemed to litter his tall, muscular frame. He grinned at her.

"Are you in a hurry?" He rumbled, his voice thick with desire.

"A bit," she admitted, "I've waited so long to do this." She ran her hands along his shoulders, enjoying the way she could savour the pleasant way his body radiated under her hands.

"Me too. But I am planning to enjoy and savour every second of it." He bent down, kissing her jaw line. She felt another tug, and his warm tongue started to trace her neck as her underdress became undone.

She was left exposed with her white sarashi wrappings. It wasn't the first time he had seen her like this. Whenever they sparred or enjoyed the beach, he would admire the contrast of the white cotton against her dark mocha skin. But now it was different. Instead of a training or swimming outfit, now they had become a final barrier. A barrier between friends and lovers. A barrier between a girl and woman. A barrier that required love and trust to be breached and bring them to ecstasy.

"My turn." She said softly and reached out to release him from his tunic. Another two layers appeared. She pouted. "This is hardly fair."

"Really? I am enjoying this immensely," his finger ran along her wrapping, ending just beneath her breasts. She shivered with anticipation.

"Can I burn these?" She couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"No! But I'll make you a deal." He smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh? I am listening."

"I'll undo them, while you get rid of all this." She gestured up and down the fabrics engulfing him. A mischievous yet dazzling smile lit his face.

"Alright."

With lightning speed his hands went to work, but his eyes remained on her, watching as layer after layer more of her was revealed. As the last piece of cotton dropped to the floor she stopped moving. Boldly she tried to resist the urge to cover any part of herself with her hands. His dark eyes drank her in hungrily. She half expected something or someone to burst into flame by the look he gave her. The longing stairs that had passed between them ever since the Ember Island holiday had been nothing compared to this.

His voice seemed to have left him. Her smooth skin glistened in the moonlight, highlighting the curves of her breasts and hips. Her waist was not as pinched as the willowy forms of his countrywomen but balanced out her strong frame and core. Her dark hair had meanwhile become undone from its pins and fell in waves along her body. She looked like the Ocean Goddess herself, especially with her shimmering blue eyes.

"Agni Katara. You are beautiful." His voice breathless and raspier than usual. Simple words but straight from his heart and his entire being. It brought a smile to her face. He thought his heart would explode, among other things.

"You don't look bad yourself." She said, her cheeks flushing. He hadn't even realised his own state of undress. Only his simple briefs remained, which in his current state left nothing to the imagination. Had he not been fully absorbed with the magnificent woman in front of him, he might have felt embarrassed. But his body and mind were too per occupied, for which he felt thankful. Instead, he closed the space between them and took her in his arms. She sighed as his warm body seared against her skin. They were like Tui and La, Ying and Yang, water and fire, hard and soft.

She wrapped her arms around his body and felt him drawing small circles on her back with his thumb. Softly she kissed the crook of his neck and he looked at her.

"Are you ok? Are you comfortable?" She nodded.

"Yes, I am."

"If you want me to stop, just tell me."

"Don't worry Zuko, I will. But right now, I want to keep going."

Nothing else had to be said as he captured her lips again in a bruising kiss. She relished it, her slim fingers entangling themselves in his hair. His own travelled, stroking her body. She felt engulfed by him, drowning in pleasure as he found her breasts and squeezed them. She moaned even louder when his fingers tugged her nipples. He grinned.

"You like that?" Her mind was blanking to form anything coherent.

"Uh huh." She merely muttered. His lips found hers again drinking her response. She looked at his eyes. His eyes had gone black, she could only detect a sliver of gold and she felt a surge of pride that he looked at her like that.

"This is nothing Katara. Nothing compared to how I plan to make you feel. My love."

He guided to sit on her bed, and she looked up at his tall frame. His toned arms were highlighted by the moon, his pale skin illuminating the room. Long black hair flowed down his shoulders. Katara never thought she would find men's hair that erotic. His chest, as she had admired on Ember Island, had grown broad and more defined by age. His strong core rippled with hard muscle. Coarse dark hair travelled in a neat line down his stomach, disappearing into his briefs. She was a healer, so she knew what still lay concealed. But there as a primal urge inside her that wanted to see him, all of him. She reached out her hands, placing them firmly on his waistband. Her eyes found his for approval.

"May I?" She received a single nod and pulled. The dark silken fabric joined the rest on the floor, forgotten. Her attention now rested on his pulsing member in front of her. Despite her limited experience from seeing the odd male warrior in the healing hunts, she knew he was a very well-proportioned man. It made her cheeks flush seeing it so erect and ready. Her water bending skills seemed to kick in and she could feel the blood pumping through his veins, the rushing sound of it echoing in her ears. His tip glistened with moisture, and she reached out again but his own hand stopped her.

"No! Not yet." He said firmly. Her eyebrows furrowed with confusion.

"Did I do something wrong?" He relaxed slightly.

"What? No, no of course not. But I want to make you feel good first. I won't last a second if you touch me." There was a grin on his face, and she couldn't help but return it. He brought her hand up and kissed the pulse in her wrist swiftly followed by her lips. Their hands continue to stroke each other as they shifted further onto the bed.

Once she was comfortable, he lifted himself from her to admire her beneath him. He would engrave it into his everlasting memories. Then he dipped back down and started to kiss her body. He relished every single gasp coming from her and felt a surge of pride as she tightly gripped his hair as his mouth latched onto her breast. He softly swirled his tongue around her nipple while his hand travelled through down until he reached her thighs. His fingers brushed part her soft curls and found her entrance. She cried out in pleasure, her back arching from the mattress. He watched her face intensely, her eyes closed to contain all the feelings inside her. He kept circling his thumb until he found what he was looking for. The little hard nub of pleasure. She groaned out his name and he felt his member twitch in anticipation. Agni, she would be the death of him. He increased his pace and silenced her increasing cries with his lips, drinking them from her.

The pleasure building up in her body was mindboggling. She wanted to scream and trash around. She wanted him to work his fingers faster and slower and faster again. Without having control for herself, she tilted her hips and pushed herself into his lean fingers. She heard his chuckle and he moved back to kissing her jawline.

"Spirits Zuko…" She breathed and his confident laugh tickled on her skin.

"Does it feel good my love?"

"Yea… argh… oh spirits!" He had moved his fingers in between her folds, carefully entering her, whilst taking one of her nipples between his teeth.

"You are enjoying this." He purred as his finger became coated with her. She could only gasp and grip his hair even harder. He enjoyed feeling her tug, urging him on. Letting go of her ever-tempting breasts, he settled down to watch her as he rhythmically started to pump his fingers into her. Carefully allowing her body to adjust from just one, to another and another. Meanwhile he tried to keep his thumb going, tracing circles around her clit.

Pleasure kept coiling tighter and tighter and her nails started to dig painfully into his scalp. But he ignored it, too excited himself to see her this close to the edge of ecstasy. He kept going as she clung onto him desperately. He resumed to kissing her. Her mouth, her neckline, her collarbone. She groaned breathlessly and as he twirled his tongue around her breast, he knew she was ready. He bit down and then everything came crashing down around her. Her vision blurred, stars dancing in front of her eyes. She couldn't even scream as her body shock from the waves of pleasure rippling through her.

He held her in his arms as she came back from her high, enjoying seeing her in so much bliss. Her breathing and heart rate slowed back down as het muttered sweet nothings in her ear. When she finally looked at him, her awe filled blue eyes twisted his heart with sheer happiness. She finally felt able to move her body again and to test it, she reached out to twirl his hair, tangled her hand back into his hair.

"That," she breathed laughingly, "was amazing. Spirits… I didn't know it could feel so… good."

"I am glad you enjoyed it so far love." He softly kissed her temple. "It is my honour to serve you."

A mischievous grin passed over her face and he had to stop himself from ravishing her right then and there.

"And how," she rolled over to face him fully, "can I serve you, my lord?"

"You're a wicked water bender." He said before crashing his lips into hers and gathering her back into his warm body. With quick movements he was above her again stroking and teasing her body as gasping started to spill from her mouth again. As one hand moved across her and down to her inviting entrance, the other gave his still erect member a good few readying strokes. She saw him do it and reached out her own hand again. He gave her a grin.

"Naughty girl. Later. Right now you are more than ready for me."

She inhaled in anticipation as he lined himself up with her. She could feel heat radiating on her thigh.

He came back up to face her.

"Relax my love." He muttered softly and kissed as he entered her.

The invasion of him felt foreign at first, despite his best attempts to coax her ready with his fingers. But she was still relaxed from her shattering orgasm, and with a quick flash of pain, he swiftly broke through her maiden barrier. He held her tightly as she clenched her teeth, allowing her body to get used to him.

"I am sorry love. I promise it will feel great again soon," Stared deep into her eyes. "Tell me when you're read…"

"Just keep going Zuko… please!"

Still holding onto her face, he softly kissed her as he started to move. First out slowly, before gliding back inside her. Her warmth gripped him tightly, and he had to bite back his release from happening. He wanted her to enjoy it before he could. Again and again until her gasps lost their painful edge. He quickened, angling his hips to go deeper. Her moans of pleasure filled his ears, and he started to lose himself in her. Every plunge seemly heavenly. He forced himself to look back at her face and his heart leaped with pride seeing the building ecstasy back in her eyes.

"Agni Katara, you are incredible… so unbelievably incredible." Faster and faster his mind told him. And she wrapped her legs around him, her nails digging into his broad back.

"Spirits Zuko! Zuko… I…"

"Are you going to come for me again love?" The edges of his vision were fading. He was so close.

"Mhmm Zuko! I... I need… I need you…"

He knew and moved one of his hands between them. She cried out as he found her sensitive clit and pumped even faster. Her screams died on her lips, as she rolled her head back and her walls tightened even harder around him, squeezing every last ounce of self control out of him. As she shattered around him, he came undone. His vision whitening as he released into her, crying out her name.

Neither knew how much time passed until they released each other from their embrace. But what Zuko did know was that he would never forget how radiantly she had smiled up at him. Her long luscious, dark brown hair splayed beneath them. Beneath long dark lashes her blue eyes shined with joy and satisfaction. He softly yet purposely rose himself just high enough to tenderly kiss her brow, before sinking back down into her arms again. He pressed her cool curving body against his own. He could stay here forever as long as she lay in his arms. He pressed his nose into the crook of her neck, taking in her scent. She burst out in giggles as his breath and long hair tickled her.

"Zuko, you're tickling me!"

"I am enjoying you." He countered but didn't have the strength left to fight her playful hands off. Inside he let himself lay beside her, draping an arm around her waist as he covered them both with the light blue covers. He felt exhaustion wash over his body determined to drag him into sleep. He desperately tried to fight it and forced his eyes open.

As if she could read is mind, she softly placed her cool hand on his face, on his scar. He became aware that she did that a lot. Just like in Ba Sing Se. It left reassuring. Calmness had descended on her own face, happiness bubbling in her heart as she watched him. It almost seemed like a dream to lay with him like this. She leaned towards him and gave him a soft kiss on the tip of his nose. He smiled happily.

"I enjoyed tonight Zuko, thank you." She took his hand and brought it to her lips. "Thank you my love."

He looked at her with so much love, almost disbelieve as she uttered those words to him. Silently he returned the gesture, wrapping their hands securely together.

"I… I never thought you would call me that." He admitted softly.

"Why ever not?"

"I never thought you could love me."

"I never thought you could me." He almost huffed in disbelieve.

"You are far too lovable Katara."

"People only like my nice side, the helpful Katara. They don't love the whole me."

"They are idiots. But it's no matter." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh no? And why ever not?" A winning smile started to appear again.

"Because I have decided I won't be sharing you." Now it was her turn to laugh.

"With who?"

"I don't know. Haru? Jet? Aang?... Nanouk?"

"Nanouk? No way. He's just being nice. Are you jealous?"

"Yes." His honest answer took her back for a moment. She searched him and saw he truly was, even afraid.

"Zuko… you have nothing to be afraid or jealous about. I love you, and only you. Spirits, I think I have loved you longer than anyone."

"Anyone? You were with Aang."

"And you were with Mai. Didn't you love her?" He didn't even have to think about that.

"No, I didn't. I liked her, but love would be too strong a word."

"Well that's like me and Aang. I did love Aang… but not like this." She said and to emphasise what she meant she pulled him into another deep kiss. She felt him relax again into her arms. As they pulled apart she softly tugged back a stray strand of black hair from his face. "Let's not pounder on the past, my love. I am just so happy to finally be here with you." He smiled at that.

"There is one thing I am still curious about."

"And that is?"

"When did you fall in love with me?" She looked up at his mischievous grin and returned it.

"I think I started to like you in Ba Sing Se. Naturally that didn't really work." He laughed softly. It gave them both some joy to know that after so many years, they could finally start laughing at his stupidity.

"What happened then?"

"Well, I remember I was touched by your persistence to help me find my mother's killer. Even after all my anger at you, you still tried to help me. No one had ever done that for me. On Ember Island everything started to get so confusing. And then the fight with Azula… You know I can't exactly pinpoint when, but looking back, I do believe I loved you back then. I just didn't want to admit that to myself. Do you understand that?" She looked back at him and he nodded softly.

Then she poked him. "Well? What about you?" He let out a laugh.

"Let me think. You know I was blinded by the Avatar and my honour." This earned him a laugh. "But I did admire you. I admired your strength and loyalty. I admired how open and kind you could be, even to someone like me. I also can't pinpoint it. But after Ba Sing Se, I sometimes wished that my uncle and Aang hadn't interrupted us. Not so you could heal my scar. I am actually glad you didn't. But because I enjoyed talking to you. I think I wanted your forgiveness so badly because I started loving you then."

They lay silently together, letting their stories sink in. She burrowed herself into his warm chest and he wrapped his strong arms around her.

"Why didn't we come together then? We wasted years…" She wondered aloud softly and he kissed her fiercely in response.

"We weren't ready to be together then. We were too young and everything was too raw. We were meant to come together now. I am sure of it." She couldn't help but smile at that.

The urge to sleep that had been pushed aside by both of them, started to return, ready to engulf them in peaceful dreams. The shimmering of the moon and the faraway sounds of the waves brought them into a slumber.

"Zuko?"

"Mhmm?"

"Will your staff be ready to find you in my chambers tomorrow?"

He picked up a strand of her long hair and softly twisted it around his wrist as if binding them together. He gave one final kiss on her lips.

"I am the Fire Lord and you my Fire Lady."