Disclaimer: It is a sign of insanity to repeat the same action constantly, while expecting a different result. I am constantly adding these disclaimers, expecting somebody to care. By definition, I should be in a loony bin. As if the men in white coats could catch me!

Okay, here's the deal:

I'm not exactly confident about the next few chapters. I sent them to my Beta, but she hasn't sent me any word for a while, and I fear that she has gone on vacation or died without telling me. Or her computer broke. Anyway, this is all self edited, and my blasted inferiority complex and paranoia are driving me off the wall. But I promised myself that I would update. I start school in three days, so expect the next update next Saturday. No sooner (seriously, we all know that I said the same thing at the beginning of the summer. I updated every four days. But I mean it this time.)

Please, if this chapter stinks like a dead squirrel, TELL ME! Don't assume that my muses are going to come back all of a sudden and redeem it at the end, because Araya left me again. Went to Bermuda or something. (So you know, Araya is my muse. She's mean to me, and also happens to be a figment of my imagination.) Anyway, if you don't like it, speak up. If you do like it, speak up. And if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

Sorry.

Lots of anxiety at home/work/school/etc. Anyway, here's your chapter.

Chapter 4

Zuko shifted steadily from sleep, awakened by a faint sound nearby. His eyes opened, ready for anything, searching the darkness for intruders. He saw Katara sit up and stretch, climbing gracefully to her feet. She gathered a few items from her bag and looked back at her sleeping companions, before stepping quietly from the clearing. Instantly alert, Zuko stood, following her from a distance. He could hear nobody nearby, but that meant very little.

After some minutes of walking, she stopped at a bubbling spring, surveying the area around her. Satisfied, she unfastened her robe and stripped it away, folding it and laying it by her supplies. Zuko forced himself to look away, feeling his face grow hot as she did the same to her shirt, her pants, her undergarments...

A quiet splash announced that she had entered the water, no doubt to bathe. Zuko cast his eyes into the surrounding shadows, keeping a constant vigilance. She lowered her guard when she bathed. He had learned that the last time he had crept up on her, when he had returned her necklace to her.

That was, what, two months ago? Three? He wondered idly, forcing himself not to glance down at Katara. She was bathing at the late hour for privacy. And she didn't need him ogling her at all hours of the night.

I'm just here to protect her. So nothing happens to her when she's alone. That's all.

"I thought you said you weren't a pervert?" Katara laughed softly. Zuko's gaze fell back on her. She was standing in front of him, clad in a towel and looking at him expectantly. He struggled to keep his eyes on hers, not to stammer when he spoke, not to let his face go completely red in the darkness.

"I'm not," he protested with as much dignity as he could muster. "I'm just making sure that nobody else—"

"Yes, you are," she chided gently, cocking her head to the side. "You're my pervert." Zuko allowed himself to laugh softly. That was exactly what he needed to hear. As awkward as this was, it could be worse...

"Always," he promised. Katara smiled and picked up a comb, drawing it through her hair.

"Do you always watch me bathe?" she mused.

"When I can get away with it," was his joking response. It was nothing more, of course. Just a joke. But he wanted to keep her happy. To keep her smiling that gorgeous smile. Little else mattered; his mind had gone completely fuzzy in the last few moments.

"I'm amazed Sokka hasn't tried to kill you more often," Katara laughed.

"I think he's saving the special treatment for the serious offenses. Like this," he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her towel clad waist, pressing her against his chest. "And this," he kissed her gently. "And this," his kisses trailed to her ear, down her neck. Katara moaned softly and laid her hands on his shoulders, dropping the comb, pulling him closer...

"Exactly. So now that you've gotten your cheery little point across, get off my sister." Zuko glanced up, shooting a slight glare at Sokka, who now stood at the edge of the clearing, his arms folded in irritation. He felt the warmth of a blush radiating from Katara's cheeks, and he reluctantly released her, drawing himself to what he hoped was a dignified stance.

"He's got a point." The Avatar's chirping voice was unmistakable. "And Katara, you might want to put some clothes on." Zuko turned, trying to withhold his surprise.

"Do you hold these midnight gatherings often?" he asked Sokka, while absently smoothing Katara's hair. Her face had gone crimson, the hue visible even in the dark of night.

"That depends. How often do you stalk Katara? There's something to be said for privacy."

"That much, at least, is true," Zuko countered.

"That's enough!" Katara interrupted. "All of you can leave now. I'd like to get dressed."

Both Sokka and Zuko seemed to have arguments for this, but Aang stopped them.

"You heard her, guys. Let's go."

"Thanks, Aang," Katara said, gathering up her clothes as the Avatar herded the other boys away from the spring.

Zuko scolded himself for being so careless. Three days had passed since Sokka's midnight spell of insanity, and his opinion of the Prince was visibly dropping by the hour. Especially when Zuko came within a yard of Katara.

And that stunt had done nothing to strengthen Sokka's trust in him.

It wasn't my fault, he moped, turning away from Sokka's accusing glare as he lowered himself to the ground.

Yes, it was, countered the vicious voice from the back of his mind. You just had to follow her. She could have been off to do anything. Absolutely anything. Don't you think there was a reason why she went off by herself in the middle of the night? A good reason why she made sure everyone else was asleep first? Of course this was your fault. You're the one who's too terrified to let her out of your sight.

Of course I am. Last time she was nearly killed. I won't let that happen to her. I can't.

No. You're just going to get yourself into even more trouble, and make things worse for her. You follow her around like a starved dog.

I do not.

Yes, you do.

Maybe I was wrong to follow her, but it still wasn't my fault. Sokka has no right to blame me for...For what, exactly? I didn't do anything.

She was wearing a towel, for crying out loud. A towel and nothing else! Who in their right mind wouldn't get suspicious?

Sokka isn't exactly in his right mind, now is he?

Right enough to recognize a lust crazed idiot when he sees one.

I am not.

Did you somehow miss what just happened at the spring?

I was guarding her!

Yes. You were doing a great job of guarding her. And holding her, and kissing her. And if Sokka hadn't interfered, Agni only knows what else you would have done. Some guard you are.

Zuko had no argument for this. Defeated, he rolled onto his back, staring at the sky.

"Zuko, we seriously need to talk," Sokka said, evidently doing his best to sound like a great big leader. Zuko sighed. He'd already had this friendly little chat inside his head. He didn't need to listen to it again. Especially if this repetition included Sokka's fists. The last thing Zuko wanted at that moment was to get into another fight.

"Let me see...I'm scum, I was wrong to sneak out after her, and I'll never do it again. Satisfied?" he flicked his glance at Sokka, who's expression had become an amusing mixture of indignation, confusion, and satisfaction.

"Er...right. Don't even think about it."

"And I'm sure you'll know if I do. Now good night."

Sokka was far from convinced, but he could think of no further arguments. Honestly, when it came down to fact, a few words would do little, if anything, to protect Katara if Zuko decided to turn on her. The passage of three days had done nothing to shake the images of his dream from his mind. He could make no sense out of Zuko's bizarre confession... or whatever it had been. And it had reopened that sensitive concern: if Zuko thought about doing anything to Katara, Sokka would never know. His knowledge was limited to his careful spying, Katara's reports, and his own deductive skills.

It left a lot of holes. Holes through which Zuko could slide in a heartbeat. All he had to do was get Katara alone and out of sight, and convince her not to talk. Considering how crazy she was about him, neither task would be incredibly difficult.

He shuddered, but managed to lay down and look asleep as Katara entered the campsite, dry and dressed. She looked around, taking in the sleeping forms of her brother and friends. Affectionately she knelt at Aang's side, stroking his head before laying down and falling asleep between him and Sokka.

Katara searched the scenery below with caution.

"Is something wrong?" Zuko asked.

"Nothing. It's just some dumb superstition," she said, shrugging off her tension. Aang and Sokka exchanged glances. Her concern was no 'superstition'. All three of them recognize the trees below. And all three knew what lurked in the cover of the dense foliage. But Katara had a point: the nightmare they had experienced was in the past, and there was no use bothering Zuko with it now. Sokka, personally, had no problem with bothering Zuko, though he wasn't looking forward to sharing any new opportunities for the other boy to tease him. Besides, the Water Tribe warrior was having far too much fun doing just that to the Prince.

"Hey, Zuko," he began, a smirk rising on his face. Zuko acknowledged him with a sidelong glance, but said nothing. "What's up? Are you worried about something?" No idiot could be fooled by the false sweetness in his voice. "You're not afraid of heights, are you?"

"Have you lost your mind?" Zuko said irritably.

"Nope. But you've just about lost your lunch. After all, being way up here, in the open sky, with nothing under you if you fall off and..."

"You have absolutely no idea what you're doing, do you?" Zuko said, glaring icily at the other boy.

"I know how that you're scared half to death."

"Stop being an idiot, Sokka," Katara said. She suspected that this was some kind of bizarre male bonding experience, but she recognized the signs of Zuko's rising temper, and really didn't want to break up a fight this high off the ground. Zuko glanced at her, his gaze unreadable.

"I'm just saying," Sokka said airily. "But seriously, your boyfriend has some serious problems with flying."

"Though it seems that you have a harder time with insults," Zuko said dryly.

"What was that, flyboy?"

"The lemur is more intimidating than you are."

"I might not be intimidating, but at least I'm not as psychotic as you are."

"Aren't you? That's a laugh."

The verbal battle continued for some time, at a seemingly eternal stalemate, though Zuko was staring increasingly more at Aang and Katara and ever less at the scenery. Evidently, Katara found this, as well as his blatant refusal to show fear, endearing. Without warning she moved behind him and began scratching his back. Sokka pouted, the argument somehow ended by her interference. Zuko was much more appreciative, and flashed Sokka a victorious smile before leaning into Katara's touch. His previous apprehension was forgotten.

"Hey, Sokka?" Aang asked as his friend climbed onto Appa's head next to him.

"What's up, Airhead?"

"Am I ever gonna be like that?" Sokka glanced back at the 'couple' with slight disgust.

"A girl? Or putty in the palm of a girl's hand?"

"The second one."

"Yep."

"You sure?"
"When did you forget what happened on Kyoshi?"

"...I didn't?"

"That's right. Trust me, it gets a whole lot worse when it's just one." Aang looked confused.

"That makes no sense."

"Of course not. Nothing does when girls are involved. Just trust me on this."