Time to go back to Zuko/OC.

Chapter 19: Second Thoughts

A fourteen year-old boy was sitting on the outer wall of his home city. The setting sun set the city behind him on fire, but he focused on the rolling ocean waves. He thought the water was fascinating, almost seductive, but he'd never found someone who shared his feelings, not even his best friend. He was a fire-bender, and fire-benders shouldn't like the water, but it felt even better to swim than to bend. Lost in his own thoughts, he didn't notice when the girl came and sat next to him.

"One day, Anzha, one day I'm going to sail away from here and never come back. I'm going to build a house on the sea, and I'll live there until I die, and go swimming every day." The words felt good, even though he knew they weren't true. She sighed.

"You know we're betrothed right?" He nodded.

"Yeah, my dad told me on my thirteenth birthday." She sighed again.

"I don't think I like you like that."

"I know what you mean, but we'll have to try. Some things you just can't get around." She nodded.

"I'll give it my best shot if you will."

They learned to love each other for the sheer fact that they could love no one else, two friends who were more brother and sister than husband and wife.

When morning came, it was raining heavily. Katara woke to find Zuko huddling in a corner of the hut, his blanket wrapped around his shivering form. The look in his eyes told her he was once again remembering the night his mother died. She crawled over to him and embraced him. He laid his head against her shoulder, and once again they slept.
Iroh and Ozai stood on the deck of the ship. Anzha was nearby, polishing her swords. Aang was teaching Natalani to play Pi-Sho, and Sokka was looking out over the horizon. They were headed towards a particular island, for Sokka had spotted smoke rising from it the night before. It was a quiet morning, the only sounds being the angry rain, until Sokka's shout rang out. They all turned to him, and he pointed out towards the horizon.

A Fire Nation ship was heading straight for them, on a collision course. One word rang through all their thoughts, and Ozai made it verbal.

"Zhao."

Iroh spun around to the men. "Prepare for battle!"

Anzha was on her feet in an instant. "What about Zuko?"

Iroh looked sympathetic but firm. "We can't rescue him if we're dead Anzha!"

Ozai turned to his pregnant love. "Natalani, go below and barricade your-self in our room." She nodded and complied. For a brief moment she contemplated whether or not to take her daughter with her, but decided against it. Anzha was a great warrior.

As the morning progressed, Katara woke to find herself alone. She got up and ventured outside, looking around. A warrior saw her and pointed in a general direction. She smiled and nodded, wondering if she was that readable. She headed in the direction the warrior pointed her, her thoughts buzzing.

She spotted Zuko in a clearing ahead and walked towards him.

Zuko turned and saw who it was, and returned his gaze to the angry ocean. Katara was the last person he wanted to see at the moment. He had grown up with Anzha, and she was the only girl he'd ever loved, ever kissed. Even as a boy, he'd known one day he'd marry Anzha.

She walked up and stood next to him, following his gaze to the ocean.

"Zuko…" She started, but he hushed her.

"I've always loved the ocean. My father used to tell me I was the strangest fire-bender he'd ever known because I loved the ocean more than my own fire." His eyes were sad and far-away.

"I once told Anzha that I'd sail away from the Fire Nation and never go back. I'd live in a house by the water until my last breath, and become as close to the water as I could. I said that, even though I knew it could never be true." She placed a hand on his arm.

"It can be." He shook his head.

"It would take a miracle."

"Miracles happen every day Zuko. Just look at us."

Zuko gave a small smile and looked back out to see.

Anzha raced down below deck, searching for Sokka. She found him standing idly in the hold with the rhinos. She grabbed his arm. "Sokka! What are you doing? We need you on deck!"

"Anzha I need to talk to you." She tried to pull him towards the stairs.

"Later!"

"No now." Anzha was astonished by his firm tone and stared at him.

"Alright, I'm listening." Sokka stared at the floor, and sighed.

"Anzha, are you sure that you love Zuko? Don't answer immediately."

Her mouth fell open in surprise, but she shut it immediately as she bit back her response, forcing herself to think about it. Yes she loved Zuko, she always had, but not in the way Sokka thought she did. She never would, but she'd pretend until the end of time.

She started to say that 'Yes, she did love him,' but he grabbed her by her shoulders and kissed her.

The kiss shocked her at first, but she found herself leaning into it. Behind the kiss, she could feel his longing, hunger, and desperation for her to love him. He pulled away and her eyes fluttered open to meet his. His eyes searched hers for her reaction.

"Sokka…" He looked away and released her.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." She wrapped an arm around his neck, spun him around and kissed him firmly. His arms snaked around her waist and pulled her to him, determined to out-kiss anyone and everyone she might've kissed before. One kiss turned into several, and they lost track of the time and events going on outside until a loud blast shook them from their thoughts.

Katara and Zuko stood staring forward until the silence was broken. A thunderous explosion echoed around them. His eyes narrowed and the euphoria of the moment before melted away.They raced down the cliff's edge around the edge of the crags to behold the beginnings of a battle between two Fire Nation ships.

Zuko pulled out a scope he just happened to have in his pocket and focused in on the ships, sheets of rain making the image blurry but distinguishable. Katara watched him concernedly as fear, worry, and anger filled his face.

"It's Iroh and Zhao."

Their eyes met, and they knew what needed to be done. The ships were only a few hundred yards off shore. Atilla and the warriors raced out of the woods just in time to see the two teenagers dive off the cliff's edge into the angry water below.