Chapter Ten

Katara opened her eyes slowly. Where am I? she thought groggily. Her head was lieing on something hard and a bright light was shining in her eyes. She tried to remember what had happened the night before. Slowly it came back to her.

Katara pulled back slowly from the kiss. She was so surprised she didn't know what to say. Finally Prince Zuko reached up and gently touched her face, then pulled her against him in another kissed. She had rolled gently off of him so that she was lying beside him on the ground. 'What am I doing?' she wondered vaguely but all she could focus on was how amazing his eyes looked and how firm and strong he felt. She put her hands lightly against his chest and they continued to kiss. After a while she slowly pulled out of the kiss and rested her head against his chest. Neither one had spoken but they were both content to stay where they were. All thoughts of the fight, and anything else for that matter, had dissolved into thin air. They were to lost in the moment.

"Oh my goodness!" Katara gasped, sitting up in surprise. Her heart pounded as she realized what she had done. They must have fallen asleep on the ground. No wonder she was so sore. I can't believe it. I kissed my enemy! I kissed Prince Zuko! Her head spun in confusion, but at the same time she couldn't help but think how good a kiss it had been and how peaceful she had felt as she fell asleep, her heading resting against him.

"You've really done it now Katara." She muttered. She glanced around and realized the clearing was empty. Where is he? She wondered uneasily. How's he going to react to this? There are so many ways he could use this against me. She stood up nervously and brushed the dirt off the back of her dress. She glanced around, then, hearing a noise, headed slowly towards the spring. As she walked around the cliff wall to an open spot by the river she saw Prince Zuko sitting on the ground, staring into the clear water as it gurgled past.

Katara hesitated. She could walk away now and pretend it never happened but that would mean giving up the only chance she had of making something more of it. And as bad as she hated herself for it, she couldn't make herself leave. Just then Prince Zuko looked up at her. She bit her lip, not sure what to say. For a moment he just looked at her. Then he looked back at the water.

"I want so bad to hate you." He said quietly. "You're the Avatar's friend, you've tried to foil my plans at every turn, and you're a water bender. Yet…..I can't. No matter how hard I try, I can't." He glanced back up at her and his voice grew colder. "I suppose that…..what happened last night……was just a joke to you. Probably had a great time didn't you? Making me……think you liked me. Ha. Ha. How hilarious."

"What?" Katara said in surprise. "No! No. I….wasn't trying to do that." She said slowly. She looked at him for minute then walked over and sat gingerly beside him. "I…..I do like you. But," she looked away, "I don't know. It doesn't make any sense."

He snorted. "You're telling me." He glanced at her as she nervously wound a blade of grass around her finger. "But, Katara," he paused. Wow. I don't think I've ever said her name before. It has a beautiful ring to it. He hesitated, then reached over and took her hand. She looked back at him in surprise. "I….I like you too, ok? And that is not the easiest thing for me to say. I don't know how this is suppose to work but….I won't let anything happen to you."

Katara looked at him, feeling a rush of happiness fill her. Slowly she leaned towards him. He leaned in but just as they were about to kiss they heard a shout from the camp.

Prince Zuko sighed and pulled back. "I guess we better get back. They'll be wondering what happened to us."

"Yeah." Katara glanced towards the campsite. Then she turned and quickly kissed him on the cheek and got up and walked away. Prince Zuko felt his face turn red yet at the same time he couldn't help but smile. "I'm really losing it."