Katara's jaw dropped as she looked up at Zuko. All of the color had drained from his face. Oh no.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Zuko asked, his voice disturbingly calm. The guard shifted uncomfortably, his eyes not meeting Zuko's directly.

"Her prison cell, sir. It's empty." Zuko's lips pursed. Katara could tell he was trying not to let his anger surface, but his face was scary. Deadly. She could've sworn some heat radiated off of his skin. He turned to look at Katara. His eyes, full of anger, met hers. Whatever he was trying to tell her, Katara couldn't tell. In a flash Zuko looked away and briskly walked out of the room, following the guard to the prison cells.

Katara sat in the large, empty dining hall alone, frozen. A feeling of foreboding had come on. This could not be good. How had Azula managed it? Was she still…unstable? Where would she even go? Katara's head fell and her eyes closed. This was her fault. After she'd made sure Zuko was okay last night she should have gone straight to the cells to make sure Azula was secure and locked down. What was she thinking? And from what they talked about at dinner, after they'd finished practicing together this morning, neither of them had gone to check on her even still.

This was bad. This was really bad. What would Azula do? And Zuko's coronation was only a few days away. Would she try to ruin that? Make a big scene? No. Someone would catch her. Everyone would be looking for her. She probably wouldn't be able to leave the Fire Nation. She didn't have a boat or the ability to fly anywhere. But, Katara reminded herself, Azula was still one of the most powerful fire benders out there. She could still hurt a lot of people. Or worse, she could get herself killed. Katara knew that no matter what she'd done, Azula shouldn't die. Not like this.

Katara finally stood and made her way out the door to the large foyer. It was empty. Did everyone know what had happened? Or was it only the guards? To her right were the large front doors out to the garden. The sun was low in the sky, and a pleasant warm breeze was flowing in through the open doors. How could the weather be so peaceful when everything was spiraling out of control?

To her left was another set of ornate doors, these ones closed. She walked over to them and pulled on the handle of one of them. It didn't budge, so she made her way outside to wait for Zuko to come back. Would he even come looking for her to explain things? Or would he go so far as to set out himself to find Azula? Katara hoped he wouldn't do that. His coronation was so soon, and it wouldn't be good if something happened to him.

But she could go.

Azula couldn't have gotten far.

Without thinking, Katara ran. She flew around the palace, out the gates and through the streets.

Where are you?

She ran, and ran, and ran, eyes scanning behind every corner and over every wall and between every crack. Her breath came heavy now, and each pace sent a jab of pain to her side. But still she ran.

The sun fell behind the horizon and the moon began to rise in the fading daylight. It was full. Having made it back to the gates of the palace grounds, Katara paused and bent to catch her breath. The air of the Fire Nation was warm, even this late in the evening. Too warm. She needed water. How long had she been running? Where was Zuko?

She couldn't focus her thoughts. Everything was scrambled, her mind a mess of worry, panic and pain.

Azula was gone. Escaped.

All that effort Katara had put into fighting Azula off and chaining her down so she could help Zuko….gone.

None of it mattered now.

Water. That's what she needed.

She stood straight again and slowly walked back onto the palace grounds. Too much time had passed. If she hadn't decided to stick around, Azula would be long gone by now. Katara cursed herself. Why had she not double checked Azula was locked away properly?

After Zuko had woken up that night, she should've immediately left, but instead she'd been….internally squealing that she'd wanted to kiss Zuko.

Argh. She cursed out loud. How could she have been so distracted? So stupid?

The heat was unbearable now. How had she never noticed how suffocating it was? All that time traveling with the gang in the Fire Nation and it had never bothered her. But now the heat, mixed with the foreboding at Azula's escape, had Katara feeling as though she was being pressed underneath a heavy rock. It was all too much. She could feel the sweat running down her spine. Too hot. Way too hot.

Water.

A small turn off the path to her room had her starting towards a training area she'd noticed the other day. She knew there was a large pool there. In a moment, her tunic was ripped off and she was jumping into the cool, soothing water. She stayed underwater for a long second, letting her mind wander to her small home in the Southern Water Tribe, with crisp wind, crunchy snow and her Gran Gran's delicious Sea Prune soup. For some reason it felt farther away than usual.

Needing air, she pushed up from the floor of the pool and sucked in a breath as she resurfaced. The moonlight hit her skin and she felt the power of it course through her veins. Her senses heightened and her nerves electrified. Night had fallen completely. At least this was familiar.

Feeling sufficiently cooled off, Katara lifted herself out of the pool in a single movement, water dripping off her bare skin and white under clothes. With a spin of her wrist and arm, the water peeled off of her and flowed back into the pool. She was lifting her blue tunic off the ground when hurried footsteps sounded down the path behind her.

"Katara! What do you think you're doing?!" Zuko's voice was low and angry, but she could tell the concern was genuine. She turned and watched him slide into view. His face was tense and dark in the shadows of the surrounding trees.

"Did you find her?"

Zuko looked away in shame. "The guards searched the entire grounds and out into the capital city. Nothing. It's like she evaporated into thin air."

Katara's face fell. No. This was so, so bad. She wrapped her belt around her waist, fixing the blue fabric into place. Zuko turned away and began pacing. When she spoke her voice was hoarse.

"It's okay. We'll find her."

Zuko whipped around and snapped at her. "What were you even doing out here?" Katara folded her arms and popped a hip. "Anything could've happened. You should've stayed inside." His tone had changed, and Katara felt that same heat from earlier radiate off of him. He was angry. His words were like sharp knives piercing her skin. Did he think her incapable?

Katara matched his tone as she said, "I think I've proven well enough already that I can handle myself just fine against Azula."

"That's not what I meant," snapped Zuko again. "You know that."

"Then what did you mean?" Katara shot back. Zuko had turned completely away. This banter between them felt familiar. And not in a good way. He didn't reply, and Katara noticed his shoulders lift and fall as he took deep breaths. He was evidently trying to calm himself down, but it wasn't hard for her to tell that he wasn't doing a very good job.

Katara walked up behind him slowly, and lifted a hand to his shoulder. Maybe if she could just help him calm down. He shrugged it off and took a step away from her. "Don't touch me."

She tried not to feel hurt at his words. "We're going to find her, Zuko. Before she hurts anyone."

"Don't pretend like you understand."

Katara scoffed. What?

Zuko started pacing again. Running a hand through his shaggy, black hair. He let out a sigh, but his body was still tense and on edge. The old Zuko would've burned something down by now.

"You need to cool off," Katara said, her voice hinting at the hurt his words had caused her.

Zuko finally whipped around to face her fully. She could've sworn an actual flame burned in his amber eyes, staring at her through the darkness like two golden beams of light. The look was ominous. "You don't understand, Katara. Azula is a monster. She will terrorize everone. Destroy everything. She'll rip apart any peace we try to achieve. " He was seething.

"I know that! But I don't think you need to scream about it," Katara countered. "We've done everything we can for now. Azula knows that everyone is looking for her, and that she's very outnumbered. We just need to keep our heads on straight and come up with a plan. She can't do–"

"You should've killed her."

Katara froze. "What did you just say?"

"After the Agni Kai." His voice was deadly. Quiet. "You should've had the courage to kill her."

Katara laced her own voice with poison. "You're saying things that you don't mean." Zuko's lips tightened. "You're scared, and you're hiding your fear with anger." Another beat passed, so Katara continued, her back as straight as a rod. "I didn't even kill the man who murdered my own mother. Aang didn't kill the man responsible for the death of thousands of innocent people. Including his own nation."

Zuko was watching her every movement, his face blank of any emotion. Katara took another step forward so there was only a few inches between them. Her next words were a whisper. "You're not a killer either, Zuko. And if Azula was standing in front of you, right here, right now, you wouldn't kill her."

After another moment, his head fell, and he lifted a hand to his face. Azula had hurt him so badly. More than Katara had ever realized. It wasn't just the lightning scar, but deep wounds inside his soul that were painful and worn with age. He needed to come to terms with this, she realized. If not now, then eventually. But she knew Zuko could never, and would never kill his sister, even if he said otherwise. Katara placed a hand on his shoulder. He stood up straight, but his shoulders still drooped. He wouldn't look her in the eye, so Katara grabbed his hand and led them down the path back to the palace.

"Come on."

They walked down the path, now lit only with pale moonlight. There wasn't a guard in sight. Silence settled between them for a while, before Katara finally spoke again. They were over half way to the outside door of her room. "I should've checked on her after I healed you. I'm sorry. This is my fault."

Zuko shook his head. Their pace was quickened, but he kept his gaze forward. "I don't know if it would've made a difference."

For some reason that made Katara feel worse, so she didn't respond. They walked in silence a little longer. Katara knew Zuko's brain was whirring, and she wished to know what he was thinking. They reached her door and Katara stopped him, forcing him to look at her.

"Alert your navy. Have them keep watch for her. That way she can't leave the Fire Nation by boat."

He gave a quick nod, but his eyes lingered on her face for a moment, looking over her features carefully. "Goodnight, Katara."

She smiled, saddened at the worry that still etched his expression. He returned with his own smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. After a second, he started the walk to another door of the palace to leave her alone at the entrance to the room she'd been using, but he turned on his heel after a few steps. "Don't leave your room. Just in case."

Every thought in her head urged her to yell and say that he couldn't tell her what to do. That she could handle herself. That she was fine. But his face was too sad and too filled with concern.

"I won't," she reassured him.

Her words seemed to ease some of his worry, and he nodded again in gratitude before walking the rest of the way out of sight.

. . .

Zuko woke with the sun and lifted himself out of bed the next morning. A pain flashed through his stomach from his wound, but he was relieved it didn't feel as bad as it had yesterday. Katara really had helped it a lot already. As he stood and walked around his room, a servant knocked and opened the door to help him dress. Zuko waved him away, indicating he could manage on his own. The servant looked unsure and left reluctantly.

Zuko made his way down the hall and out to the courtyard to practice his bending. His schedule was already filled with war reparation meetings and fittings for his coronation robes. Exciting. Though it was all a hassle, he was happy his people were eager to move away from this war.

Like a flood, every memory from yesterday flooded his mind. Azula was gone. Missing. Free to lie and steal and terrorize. The thought made his insides churn. How had she even managed to escape her cell and slip past the guards? Especially in her state…

The thought was unnerving.

But also, she hadn't shown herself yet, and it'd been a while now. Perhaps she'd lay low a while longer. Or perhaps she was waiting to make a big scene at his coronation tomorrow.

Why couldn't anything ever be simple?

A strong burst of flame shot from Zuko's fist. The sun was higher now, and the light and warmth seemed to seep directly into his body. Every muscle was on alert. Every tendon tense and ready for his next form. Sweat beaded at his temple.

Zuko inhaled and began the movements for his next form.

More thoughts swirled in his head, pushing him to move faster and cleaner. His dream from the night they'd first fought Azula flashed before his eyes. The blue light streaking towards Katara…Zuko frozen in place, forced to watch as the lightning crackled upon hitting its target. A scream. A laugh.

No. She was fine. Katara was safe. Azula hadn't gotten her.

With a spin, Zuko finished his last form. He stood straight, now covered in a thin sheen of sweat and walked to sit on a bench.

Katara had always been there. Every time he'd been on the brink of falling into an abyss, she'd been there with her hand on his shoulder. After the play, when he'd been so sure Azula would kill him, Katara had been there. In front of his Uncle's tent, too scared of what his Uncle would think of him, Katara had again been there. When he'd gone down and Azula still needed taken care of. After, when he'd been hurt and needed a healer's hand. When Azula escaped and Zuko'd been overcome with despair and fear….Katara had been there. Even after he'd insulted her courage and skill.

She'd always been there for him.

He didn't have many people in his life like that.

And then Zuko just thought of her.

The way she fought. The way she laughed and the way her eyes glinted when she smiled. Zuko liked the way Katara teased him, even though he hated when others did, because it made her smile that beautiful smile.

He thought of the way she cared for the group, pouring her heart into protecting and keeping them alive.

Her passion, drive, strength and selflessness. All of it.

Even the way she healed. He'd take a thousand bolts of lightning for her if it meant she'd always be here to help people the way she'd helped him. The world was better because she was in it.

Everything that was Katara, the last waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe.

And then came another thought that had him crashing back to reality: Katara was meant to be with Aang. That's exactly what he'd thought as they'd ridden to the Fire Nation on Appa. And Katara might as well have confirmed it with what she'd said. Their relationship was deep. Perhaps more so than Zuko could even understand. He couldn't come between that. Especially if it was what Katara wanted.

He stood quickly and stalked back to the palace, trying and failing to leave his thoughts of Katara in the training ring.

Luckily, Zuko didn't see Katara at breakfast. The last thing he needed was to see her after everything that had swirled in his head this morning. He spent most of the day in meetings, talking with advisors and devising plans to release prisoners of war as soon as possible. There were treaties to sign, colonies to start relinquishing, and reparation agreements to write. It was all so much, and he wished Uncle was there to help him with it all.

By mid-afternoon, Zuko finally found himself alone, sitting at the large, ornate wooden desk in the office that used to belong to his father. Spirits. How was he ever going to do this? He wasn't even officially the Fire Lord and everything was already stressing him out. He still hadn't heard any news on Azula.

With a sigh, he stood, deciding it'd be best to take a walk. Just to clear his head. This was the life he was going to have to get used to.

The wall paintings in the palace drifted past him as he aimlessly walked around the palace. The times he'd lived here, both before he'd left to hunt Aang, and after he'd returned with Azula from Ba Sing Se, were times he wished he could forget. At least now he'd have the chance to create good memories here. Hopefully.

After about ten minutes of walking through the palace, Zuko drifted outside. The sun burned bright still, and he was grateful for the boost of energy. A small giggle turned his attention towards the turtle duck pond. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face at what he saw.

Katara was spinning her arms gracefully, bending water to entertain some Fire Nation children, who oohed and aahed and giggled as she moved the water smoothly between each of them. Their eyes were transfixed on Katara, wide with awe and wonder.

"It's magic!" cried one of them.

Katara laughed as if she'd heard this before. "No, just water bending."

Zuko had been around other benders for so long now he'd forgotten what it was like to grow up with only people from the Fire Nation. He'd only learned about other benders in school, but had never seen any until he had been banished. To these children, Katara's waterbending really was magic.

He watched Katara's smooth and connected movements push and pull the water around them, shaping and re-shaping it with her hands. It was so different from fire bending. There was truly something exotic and beautiful about her. Her slightly darker skin and blue clothes were evidence that she was different from any of the girls he'd grown up with and been accustomed too. She'd grown up in a completely different world than he had, and for some reason it made her so much more fascinating.

Zuko walked closer so the group and the children noticed him. They immediately straightened, awkwardly half-bowed and ran away, probably to their parents.

"Zuko," she said teasingly. "You scared them."

"Hey, I didn't mean to," he said, lifting his hands in the air defensively. She smiled and looked at him a moment as she bent the water back into the small pond.

"Do you know them?" she asked.

"Not well. Their parents are nobles here for some of the meetings today." Katara nodded at his words.

"How've the meetings been?" She seemed actually interested, and not like she was just trying to make conversation.

"Well, it's been a lot. It's all very important but…it's just a lot. I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. But Uncle will be here soon to help."

"Yes, I'm sure he'll be a great comfort." Katara walked up closer to Zuko, looking at his chest. "How does it feel? It's been a while since I checked." Last night he'd been too busy yelling at her for her to offer to heal him again. Zuko silently cursed himself again.

"It feels amazing. You've helped it a lot." He loosened his shirt so she could see.

"It really does look like it's healing well, Zuko. I can do one more healing session tonight and wrap it in bandages again just to make sure." Zuko nodded and retied the front of his shirt. He saw Katara's eyes linger on his bare chest and felt his stomach drop just a little. She blinked and looked away.

"I'm sorry for what I said. Last night," said Zuko, the same feeling of shame washing over him as he remembered the words he said to her in the training ring.

"You don't have to apologize," she said sincerely. He could've sworn her eyes filled with a little sadness. "I could've done so much more to make sure she was taken care of…"

"No. It was never your responsibility. Azula was my problem, and I failed. I'm just glad you were there to do what I couldn't." A beat passed. "I don't know what would've happened otherwise."

"If I hadn't been there you never would've had to…save me. You would've won that fight all on your own."

Zuko smiled at her compliment, knowing it didn't actually matter now what would've happened. Everything had passed the way it had for a reason. Not wanting an awkward silence to pass he spoke again. "You're bending looked really amazing just now. " Zuko didn't give out many compliments, but he truly meant this.

"Thank you," she said with a blush. The heaviness of the conversation seemed to have passed.

"Would you want to spar?" Zuko asked.

"What? Like now?"

"Yeah, why not? I haven't been able to practice opposite someone in a while. It would be good training. For both of us."
"But, what about—"

"You just said it was mostly healed. And it doesn't even hurt," he pointed out. Katara looked hesitant. "Besides, you'd only ever be able to beat me while I'm injured."

"Quite the challenge, Fire Lord." Zuko could tell the chance to spar was just too good for her to pass up. She smiled mischievously and finally agreed. "I guess as long as it's not any more lightning whatever training… and as long as you're okay getting your butt whooped….then I'm okay with it too." Katara was trying to hide the excitement in her voice, but Zuko could still tell it was there. He smirked back at her.

"Well okay, then."

They walked down the path to the small training area outside of Katara's bedroom that had the fountain full of water for her to bend. They took their stances opposite each other and bowed.

Each paused and circled a second, both waiting for the other to start. Katara eventually made the first move, bending two water whips to her hands and striking them at Zuko, who sidestepped and ducked easily. He could tell she wasn't going her full strength to see how he would fight with his injury. But Zuko wasn't going to go easy on her. He sent a wall of flame at her, hoping to knock her whips out of her hands.

Katara bent water into a wall of ice, skidding away to safety and shooting a burst of water right at him. He was unprepared and took the full force of it, stumbling a few steps back and nearly falling to the ground. He dried himself quickly. She landed on the solid ground behind him. Zuko whipped around and sent multiple fireballs her way. He was impressed with how nimbly she weaved between them, dousing ones that got to close.

Zuko liked that he didn't have to go easy on her. Katara was skilled, and he knew that. They went on for a while, each getting in some good hits. At one point, Zuko managed to knock her off her feet. He felt concerned for a split second, but Katara used that moment to jump up and push him against a tree with a gust of water, freezing him there.

It was thick ice, so it took a few seconds longer than he'd have liked, but Zuko melted through it and stepped back onto the training ground. In that time, Katara had caught her breath. He hadn't even gotten both feet back on the ground before she'd sent ice daggers flying towards him. He had to react quickly to send up a shield of flames to melt them. They circled each other for another quick moment and Zuko remembered some old advice of his uncle's: always look to break your opponent's stance.

Zuko stepped closer towards Katara and sent a burst of fire to both sides of her. With a flurry of her arms, she bent water to each burst and extinguished them. She made to send the water his way, but he stepped closer and caught her wrists. She hadn't been expecting this and panicked slightly. When it came to hand-to-hand fighting, he knew she wasn't nearly as strong as him.

Katara made a move to knock his knees out but Zuko was quicker, catching her leg from behind and triumphantly tripping her backwards into the fountain of water.

In a move of panic, Katara suddenly grasped his elbow and brought him down into the fountain on top of her.

She landed on her back in the shallow water with a smack and Zuko heard her grunt as he landed right on top of her. He quickly made to get up but Katara froze the water all around them in another act of desperation, lockingthem in their positions.

"HA, got you," she said.

"Um, I'd say this is a lose-lose situation seeing as we're both stuck," Zuko replied jokingly. Katara laughed and he smiled. "And you can't pretend like you were planning this the whole time."

"Ok, fine. Tie," she said with a smile.

"Deal," he conceded. "Now, I think I might burn you if I tried melting this.

"As was my master plan all along."

"Sure," Zuko replied sarcastically, still smiling. Katara closed her eyes and took a breath, the ice instantly melting to water all around them. Zuko watched her. She was beautiful. Truly, truly beautiful. Katara faltered under his gaze when her eyes opened and her face turned serious.

Zuko suddenly realized that with the fountain water now melted around them again, he was probably crushing her.

"Oh, sorry," he said, finally looking away and shifting his weight off Katara. Maybe he'd stared a moment too long. Once she had sat up too, she stared at him a second before leaning closer to him.

Zuko felt his heartrate jump and his stomach fall. What was she doing? She was closer now. He could feel her breath.

And then, Katara kissed him.

It was gentle, but Zuko was caught off guard and backed away in shock, looking at her for a moment. She was staring at him expectantly, and worriedly, as if concerned she'd just crossed a line she shouldn't have.

Without thinking, Zuko leaned forward again, waiting to see if she would back away this time. She didn't and his lips brushed against hers again. Again it was gentle, neither wanting to spoil a perfect thing. He relished in it, this feeling of Katara's soft lips on his. She was cool and refreshing and Zuko drank in everything. Her taste, her smell, and everything else that was purely her. He moved his hand to her cheek tenderly and Katara broke their kiss to catch her breath. Their foreheads stayed connected, and she moved a hand to cover the one he still had on her cheek.

"I don't know why I did that," she said nervously.

"I'm glad you did," he encouraged. Katara breathed out a small laugh. They stayed sitting in the fountain for another long second before Katara let out a shaky breath and grasped his hand, lowering it away from her face. She stood and stepped out of the fountain, water sloshing out with her. Zuko followed suit. He evaporated himself dry and Katara bent the water off her clothes.

They started the trek back to the front of the palace, and Katara didn't say anything. What was she thinking right now? Zuko couldn't believe what had just happened. Katara had kissed him. Initiated it! Could she maybe be having the same feelings he was having? Could she care for him the way he knew he had started to care for her? Should he say something right now?

He slyly turned to look at her and noticed she was staring straight ahead, seemingly lost in thought. Zuko couldn't think of anything to say, so he didn't.

When they reached the front doors, a servant approached them.

"Prince Zuko, you have visitors."

"Who?" he asked, confused who it could be.

The servant smiled. "The Avatar and his friends, sir."

Katara lit up. She grabbed Zuko's arm, unable to contain her excitement. "They're here! They must have caught an earlier ship!"

He smiled back, and they both made their way through the doors to greet their friends.

A/N Hope you liked watching Zuko finally come to some sort of realization about his feelings. I also hope it wasn't too cheesy lol. Please review! I'd love to know more about how you guys feel this story is going, this chapter in particular. Oh, and I promise that we will indeed hear from Azula soon. *smirks* Thanks again for reading guys! And please review! I hope to update really soon!