You Don't Hate Me

By

Lucibell

Chapter Six

I sit at the table, fiddling with the necklace. I stare down at it, a million scenarios running through my head. I've never been this nervous before in my life, not even before the Agni Kai with my father. I sigh and put the necklace down on the table before me, jiggling my leg. I really hate this feeling. It's not characteristic of me at all to be nervous. I'm usually just so commanding and in charge that I don't have time for nervousness. But this time, I'm not in charge. I don't have control.

This time, it's all in her hands.

She has control of everything, and that scares me more than anything. How this night turns out is going to affect me for the rest of my life.

Okay, so maybe it's not that consequential, but it sure as heck feels that way.

My heart's in her hands right now, and she doesn't even know it.

I hear the click of the door as it opens and my head snaps up. I stand and walk towards the door.

I pause mid-step, my breath catching in my throat.

There before me, in all her beauty, is Katara. My mother's blue wedding gown flows over her figure like the water that she controls and it takes all I can do not to stare at her. I look up at her face and her striking blue eyes meet mine, full of uncertainty. I remember to breathe and take the opportunity to compliment her.

"You look…" I can't think of the word… there really isn't one. I let out another breath. "Wow…" I whisper.

She smiles that brilliant, gorgeous, awe-inspiring smile and I feel my knees buckle and my stomach gives a little flop. "Thank you," she says quietly.

Suddenly remembering my manners, I walk forward and take her hand as the soldier that brought her closes the door. I lead her to her seat at the table and she sits, not waiting for her chair to be pushed in. I stand behind her, startled for a moment, then realize that being raised in the South Pole Water Tribe, it was likely that such luxuries weren't commonplace like they were in the Fire Nation.

Quietly I move to my side of the table, picking up the necklace and then looking back to her. She looks up and smiles at me and I feel my gaze soften. I walk back to her and she gives me a questioning look. I move behind her and clasp the necklace around her tan neck, my fingers lightly brushing her skin. She gasps lightly and I smile, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"I believe this belongs to you…"

She reaches up and touches the pendant as I straighten and move back to my side of the table. I sit and fold my hands on the table in front of me, looking at her. She's looking down at the necklace in amazement and I feel a smile tug at the corners of my mouth. She looks up at me and stares, her blue eyes filled with tears. I furrow my brow.

"Is something wrong, Katara?"

She smiles brilliantly once again. "No…" she whispers. "Nothing's wrong… Zuko. Nothing at all…"

I can't help it anymore. I smile at her. Quietly I ask her how she likes the dress, looking down at my hands to keep myself from staring. My mother's gown fits her perfectly, and she's only fourteen.

I think it's safe to say my mother was a petite woman. And that in a couple of years, Katara will no longer fit into that dress.

But for now, it's enough. It's more than enough. It's absolutely stunning.

I can hear her laugh lightly across the table. "It's wonderful, Zuko. Where did you get it?" she asks, looking down at the dress.

I glance up. "It… was my mother's…" I reply quietly. I just stare at her, catching her blue eyes with mine as she looks up at me. I blink once, twice, then look down, letting out a short laugh. "I haven't thought of her since I was banished…"

"Why?"

I look back up at her, then look away. "One generally doesn't dwell on the dead…"

A Brief Interlude

That statement really hit home for Katara. 'One generally doesn't dwell on the dead…' She knew that feeling all too well, what with her mother having been murdered. By him.

No, not him.

His Nation. The Fire Nation.

His father…

His father that banished this poor child for wanting to spare a few lives.

Lives of his own people, for that matter.

His father who had the power to stop this war but was too power-hungry to do so. His father who did nothing to help raise a caring, compassionate, and understanding son.

But did everything to break his son's spirit the day he burned him. The day he banished him. The day he practically told him "I don't want you. You're not welcome here. You're a disgrace. Don't ever come back. This is no longer your home." She hated that man, and she'd never even met him.

She hated him and all he stood for. She hated the Fire Nation. She hated the person he'd created in his son whenever he sent him away. She hated them all.

She looked at the young man, staring into his burning golden-amber eyes. She traced the outline of his scar with her gaze and couldn't help let the lump grow in her throat and the tears prickle the backs of her eyes.

She wanted to hug him and tell him she was sorry. She wanted to fix everything that was wrong in his life. She wanted to help him through his struggle against his father. She wanted to show him the person he could be.

She wanted to show him the love that he had obviously never had.

She wanted to love him.

She did love him.

Her eyes widened at the realization, and she blushed looking down. It wasn't earth-shattering, and it wasn't altogether startling. It had been gradual. She had known. She had even tried to stop it.

It was the fact that she was admitting it to herself that made her nervous.

She looked up at him, meeting his fiery gaze evenly, knowing that her eyes were filled with unshed tears. "I'm sorry…" she whispered, her voice breaking and the tears falling. "I'm so sorry…"

Author's Note: Woo! That's a doozy! O.o Bet you guys like that cliffhanger. Cuz, y'know what, I do! Thanks so so much for the reviews, guys. It's amazing. And I'm sorry this update took a little longer. You just have to remember that fluff is a hard element for me to write. I'm not much of a romancey person, though I love reading it, so it takes time for me to get the fluff just the way I want it.

I like the way this turned out. But the dinner is not over! Nor is the fic. Remember to keep the teaser in mind, because life's not all stars and roses. And it's not going to be for Zuko and Katara. There's going to be a falling out, but that's all I'm telling you. XD

Now on to the Reviews!

Zukos Girl: This is an even worse cliffie. XD And no lemon, just fluff. I really don't swing that way. I'm not partial to yaoi/slash either. But I'll read what I can tolerate... Thanks!

Saucy Noodles: Interesting, yes. Very.

swimchick1614: Oops, no input from Sokka yet. I started writing this chapter with the intention of having a Sokka centered interlude, I need to put some Aang centered stuff in as well, but when I started writing, it just didn't go like I planned. But it turned out great. But dont' worry, I haven't forgotten about our favorite Brother and Avatar!

iloveprincezuko: (Me too!) Thanks!

drkbloodrain: Yes, he is. And yes, he's awesome. I love him too.

Katuko: How does Zuko being a softy make you think of ice cream trucks? O.o

Dine Bilagaana: Thank you, and you're welcome.

Mini MnM: Yeah, I thought that was funny, too. Iroh's great. There's a fic floating around here where he's Smack Daddy I.R.O.H. I don't remember the title or who writes it, but it's definite hilarity. I'll have to go back and look. I need to review and tell them how great it is...

WATERLADY7: Thank you!

xx Painful Bliss xx: Zuko definite softy. End of discussion. XD Thanks.

Arwey: Thank you. I try to add a little humor to most of my fics. I used to have a really weird sense of humor, but after reading and writing some, it's gotten better and things I used to think were funny when I was a kid are just stupid now.

Aangluva: Dinner ain't over yet, sweetie...

.CrimsonMysteryOfARose.: You...? What happened?

Niatash1: Eep! So demanding! -salutes- Yes, ma'am!

jerseygirl246: LoL, I haven't heard the word 'joshing' in so long...

Spleef: It ain't over yet...

starlightz112: Thank you ever so much!

Outsane: You're name's interesting. Care to explain it? Is it like... a parody of the word 'insane'? Anyway, thank you!

AwakenDreams: Thank you. So much. And the cookies are great.

UMIFIREFLY15: Thank you.

Purpurroter Schatten Drache: Thank you!

LoneWolfLink: I'm glad someone reads my Zelda fics! Thank you!

kittyluver: Thanks for the necklace idea. I had totally forgotten about it and was having trouble writing the events of the chapter when I got your review. I was already pretty far into it, but didn't like how it was going, so I took your idea and fixed it. Thank you ever so much. You get twelve points.

chickygurl: -tear- -sniffle- Thank you, thank you. -bows-

GHG: Thank you!

And now, a quote for you all:

Money is tainted. 'Tain't yours, and 'tain't mine either.

God bless!

Luci