Avatar: The Last Airbender is not my creation, the people at the Nickelodeon Studios created it, but that will not stop me from making my own little episodes of excitement and romance.

Katara returned to the washroom and changed into the clothes that Iroh had given her. After drying and combing her long brown tresses, she headed for the main deck deciding that a whiff of fresh air would not do her any harm. The waterbender inhaled the salty sea air and smiled. She hadn't realized how much she had missed the outdoors until she was exposed to it.

Making sure that no one was watching her, she extended her arms in a swift motion and lifted a stream of clear water from the ocean below. A satisfied smile graced her tanned face as she did an elegant flowing water whip. She lifted her hands once more, raising a small fragile wave with her. "Push and pull," she meditated quietly and raised her hands more. "Push and pu--"

"Practicing your bending, are you now?" Iroh asked as he walked up behind her.

She dropped her arms in a mixture of frustration and surprise and turned around. "I wasn't going to try any--"

"I know. I know. Do not worry child," the old man said. "I just wanted to know if you'd accompany me and have a nice cup of jasmine tea."

Katara nodded softly and followed the man quietly, her mind forgetting about waterbending and how that might have been her only chance to practice it. Iroh led her to a small room that was lighted by a few candles, two cushions positioned opposite eachother, and a small wooden tea table fixed in the middle. A small kettle with matching cups sat neatly on the table; small puffs of steam exiting the pot's narrow mouth.

"Please take a seat." The general motioned to one of the soft cushions and watched the girl nod and follow his request. "You do like jasmine tea, right?"

"Yes," the waterbender answered shyly and took a quick glance around the room.

"Good, good," he whispered and poured the hot drink into her teacup. "Tell me my dear, how old are you?"

She raised an eyebrow at the random question before answering. "Fourteen, sir."

"Please, call me Iroh. 'Sir' is a bit too official for me." He chuckled lightly and sipped from his tea.

"Yes s--Iroh." She smiled warmly at the man before tasting the drink that he had served for her. She almost sighed at its warm sweet taste. Never had she had such great tasting tea. "Thank you very much for the tea."

"My pleasure. I usually have my tea out on the deck but it's a bit windy today, isn't it?" He watched her nod and smiled. What a shy young girl. "My nephew never did like tea. I'm glad you do though. It gets lonely drinking by yourself."

Katara sighed and nodded. "Yes, I suppose it does."

"So how has Prince Zuko been treating you?"

"Like a prisoner," she answered curtly and took a sip from her tea.

Iroh furrowed her brow at her response. "You don't like him at all, don't you? You think he's a horrible person," he paused and took a deep breath, "I'll have to acknowledge that he isn't the kindest man you'll ever meet, but he has his moments where he shows respect and concern for others."

"If you're implying that I hate him, I don't," Katara corrected and watched the old man raise an eyebrow at the statement. "I just--we just don't get along. He's a Prince; I'm a peasant. He fights for the Fire Nation; I fight for..."

"Peace?"

"Yes," she breathed. "We're opposites sir. Opposites don't get along. They never will."

Iroh chuckled. "Nonsense. Opposites attract. Opposites keep each other in constant balance. Without good there isn't bad. Without cold there isn't hot."

Katara opened her mouth but closed it upon finding nothing to say. He was right. Opposites do keep balance between each other. Without one, the other can not be.

"He cares about you, you know," the old man said abrubtly and smiled when he saw the surprised expression that surfaced the girl's young face. He watched her unbelieving eyes open and close with such difficultyas if though he had said that pigs could fly.

"E-excuse me?" she whispered, her voice wavering with doubt. Did he say what just she thought he said.

Iroh smiled. "Yes, I talked to him a few minutes ago."

Katara felt her jaw drop. "He--he told you that he c--cares about me?"she stammered nervously; her heartbeat beginning to quicken. Everything was going a bit too fast. This was - what - her third day here?

"Oh heaven's no!" the general exclaimed. "He'd die before confessing any sort of feelings towards anyone. But I did speak to him and saw that familar flicker of light in his eyes when I mentioned you.I was young once. I know the feeling all to well."

The Water Tribe girl laughed uneasily and shook her head. "No, you must be confused. Zuko isn't the type of person who cares about me. Or anything for that matter."

Iroh smirked and crossed his arms. "Can it be that you also care about him?"

Katara furrowed her brow at the firebender's boldness. "No sir, it can not be. I don't care about Zuko. It takes love to care about something. And I don't love Zuko. I don't." She stood from her seat, feeling flustered and angry. How dare that man tell her that she cared about that stupid Prince. That disgusting perverted - but ever so handsome - stupid Prince.

"Ah, but what to do if it's too late?"

Katara crossed her arms and looked down at the man. "What do you mean?"

"Love is like a disease my dear. Immunity to such a feeling is impossible except for the coldest of creatures. It is contagious but welcomed with every fiber of ones being. And once caught, it is impossible to cure. For you see, love gives but doesn't take. Love multiplies itself without losing its size or value. Love is pure. Love secretly reproduces itself within our humble hearts and it is until its very late stages that we can see it. Love causes us to see the good in people. Love is beautiful."

Katara frowned disdainfully at the man.She did not love Prince Zuko. No way. Not now. Not ever. Denying your feelings, are you now? She huffed in anger. "Thank you for the tea, sir, it was delicious." She turned on her heel and headed for the door.

"Love can not be denied Katara," Iroh added and watched her open the door.

The waterbender turned to face the old man, a cool breeze hitting her back. "Then clearly there is a flaw in your theory. I don't love Prince Zuko. And I never will." She turned and gasped upon coming face-to-face with a very angry (and hurt?) Prince.

"So how long do you think we have to wait here?" Sokka asked while he made a small pile of hay, for a seat.

"The woman said that we could stay here as long as we need to. Which is probably a week or so. When the ship comes around we'll get on. Geez. Stop whining so much and be glad that we'll have Katara back in a couple of days." Aang sat on the floor, and petted Momo. "Remember Momo: you can't follow us when the ship comes. You go to the shelter and get Appa ready and we'll meet you over there. Got it?"

The lemur chirped and accomodated itself on his owner's lap.

"You actually believe that that lemur is actually going to do what you say? And for your information I wasn't whining. I was just asking how long we're staying. "The warrior stuffed a grape in his mouth. "You'd know if I was whining. I wasn't whining. Pssh. Just asking a question, that's all."

"Umm…when you're done having your little episode, can you pass the grapes. Momo and I are hungry," Aang laughed.

Sokka passed the bowl of grapes and eyed Aang a bit. "Aang can I ask you something?"

"Sure Sokka."The young Avatar put a small purple grape in his mouth and smiled, as the tart taste of it spread throughout his mouth.

"Do you like my sister as more than just a friend?"

Aang coughed uncomfortably. "Wha--Why? I mean -she's nice and pretty, but--"

"So you do like her?" Sokkaasked with a smirkand raised an eyebrow.

"What's with the question?"

"I was just wondering."

"Well stop, OK? We're just friends. "The boy stuck a couple more grapes in his mouth and looked away.

"Sure."

I decided to add some structure to Aang and Sokka's story. I hope you like it so far.

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