Wow, either everyone has died or my last chapter sucked worse than I thought it did! This is the smallest number of reviews I've ever gotten. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers. I don't know what the deal is today, but first my horse, Mama, tries to bite me (It's something she's never done before in the ten years we've had her. I blame it on the hormones of pregnancy) then I was pouring myself some kool-aid and my dad bit my arm (also a first, but I still can't figure it out. I hope he's not pregnant or else he has some 'splainin to do). Today was my nephews third birthday party. His b-day is actually tomorrow, but we celerbrated today because everyone wasn't busy. I'm proud to say that I beat the snot out of the Spongebob pinata. I didn't exactly break it because the thing was indestructable, but I broke him off the wire holding him up. So we ended up just tearing him open like a bunch of blood-thirsty heathens. Anyways, here's the shoutouts to my (sniff sniff) three reviewers. Seriously, did my last chapter suck that bad?

Zukoscute2: I'm glad you luved it. That at least makes one.

Titan09: Augh, I hate the violin prodigies. There's one girl in my chamber orchestra who played the bass last year but this year is concert mistress. She's flippin' amazing. She plays bluegrass and it makes me feel like slime because I'm not bad, but I'll never be as good as her. I haven't really seen all that much of the Homestarrunner site except the SB emails and teen girl squad. Once again I blame my dad for blowing out our speakers. And I'm glad you liked the chapter. Yay that makes...two people.

O-dragon: Yay! 3 people liked the chapter! So you were working as Sea World and complaining about touching fish? What's wrong with you! Just kidding, just kidding. Don't hate me. But seriously, that's awesome. I went to Xel-ha last year when I went on a family trip to Cacun and really wanted to do this 'swim with dolphins' program, but wasn't able to because all the spots had been filled up. But at least I got to swim with some humongous parrot fish. I swear, they were bigger than me. And the sound they made when crunching on coral was loud. Anyways, still can't wait for your next chapter!

Alright. I know I said I would be keeping the interaction between Katie and Zuko to minimum fluff, but I couldn't help it. I just had to write this.

Katie decided that she absolutely loved Zuko's bed. She woke up feeling like she was floating. But she found that there was a downside as she reached out for him, and that was the size of the thing. She couldn't find him with her probing hands and had to open her eyes. He was three feet away, curled up with his back to her. Kate rolled over and spooned behind him, letting her hand explore the muscles on his chest, stomach and thigh. As always he was radiating a kind of heat. Katie had been warm seconds before, but once she had a taste for his warmth she felt as though she was freezing without it. Zuko let out a small sigh and leaned back against her but refused to wake up. Katie kissed his neck and shoulder, but still he wouldn't stir. She placed her lips to his cheek and blew a loud raspberry against his skin. Zuko jumped as though stung and looked around confusedly. Katie chuckled and snuggled against his back.

"What was that for?" Zuko asked in annoyance.

"I don't know. Maybe I just want to be a pest." Katie said kissing his shoulder. "You smell good. Like a sleepy man."

"Good, because that's what I am right now." Zuko said rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Do you mind if I go back to sleep now that you've told me this?"

"You're no fun." She said resting her cheek against his. Then she had an idea. An awful idea. Katie had a wonderful, awful idea. Katie let her roaming hand drift up beneath Zuko's arm to a sweet place on his ribcage just below his armpit. Letting out a Xena war cry, Katie dug her fingernails into Zuko's tender flesh and tickled him mercilessly. Zuko's body began to spasm as he tried to fight off the laughter and Katie's fingers at the same time, but his muscles seemed to have turned to jelly. Finally, he rolled on his back, got a strong arm around Katie and pulled her tightly to his chest. He wiped tears of laughter from his eyes and tried to glare at her.

"That wasn't fair." He whined.

"Yes it was, you're bigger than me." Katie said kissing him softly. She wrapped her arms beneath the base of his skull so that they acted like a sort of pillow. Zuko placed a hand behind her neck and pulled her closer, kissing her deeply. Then the hand snaked down to her waist and pulled her hard against him. There was a slight knock at the door and they both pulled away with a growl. Katie began rolling off the top of him, but Zuko held her there.

"What is it?" he asked in his most annoyed voice.

"I beg your pardon prince, but the Firelord wishes to meet with you in the throne room." A very business like voice called from the other side.

"Tell him I'm busy making love to my wife and won't be able to meet with him for another hour." Zuko called to the messenger. Katie muffled her laughter on Zuko's shoulder as a stunned silence greeted them from the other side of the door.

"Um…yes sir." The man said nervously and they heard nothing more from him.

Zuko stepped into the throne room and glanced around for his father. He saw the man out on a balcony staring over his kingdom.

"You wished to speak with me…father?" Zuko asked trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice. Ozai didn't move, he stood tensely as though readying himself to attack.

"Yes prince Zuko." He said after a moment of silence. He turned to face his son, there was an emotion behind his eyes that Zuko couldn't comprehend, but he knew he should be afraid of it. "I now understand that the task I gave to you to redeem your honor was an impossible one. Especially for a teenage boy." Zuko glared slightly at being called a boy. "I am giving you another chance Zuko. If you can claim a victory in battle against the Earth Kingdom forces, your throne will be given back to you." Zuko felt his heart jump.

"Thank you father." He said trying to contain his happiness. He couldn't wait to tell Katie that his hunt for the Avatar was finally over. His father nodded to him in dismissal and it took a great deal of control on Zuko's part not to start running back to the bedroom. When he got to the door, Zuko glanced back at his father and saw Ozai watching him. Zuko now understood the expression on the older man's face. It was hatred. And Zuko's heart began sinking back into place as he realized his father's intentions.

"Aw Judas Priest!" Katie cried from the floor with Zuko's foot pinning her chest. "Your point." He removed his foot and gave her a hand up. They both took a defensive stance and Zuko made the first move, swiping his hand towards her shoulder. Katie dodged it and hit it away. She brought her foot up and kicked at his back, but he had whirled around and caught the foot, gradually he lifted it higher into the air leaving Katie to hop around helplessly. "Your point." She said again and Zuko let go of her foot. They started the whole thing over again. After a few blows, Katie managed to get behind Zuko. She grabbed his arms and pulled them roughly behind his back while pushing against the base of his spine with her raised knee. He struggled to get out of her grip for a few seconds but eventually gave up.

"Your point." He said and Katie released his arms. She rested her head against his back, trying to get her breath under control. They had been exercising for the last hour. Zuko turned around so that he was facing her and allowed her to lean against him in exhaustion. He glanced around this training room, he had spent countless hours here in his youth. There was a balcony all the way around the room where spectators could watch the proceedings without the risk of getting in the way of a stray flame. Standing in a dark corner was Ozai, he was watching them closely. Zuko hadn't noticed him there and he suddenly felt exposed. He rubbed Katie's arm. "Come on. Let's go for a walk."

"Are you okay?" Katie asked once they were out of the training room. Normally while they trained she only got the better of him once if she was lucky, but today she had been pinning him without a problem and she knew she wasn't that good. Zuko wrapped a protective arm around her waist. She had been wearing her p.j bottoms and cookie monster shirt to train in and her stomach was a little bit exposed. Zuko glared at anyone who gave her a glance.

"I'm fine. I was just thinking." He said. He didn't want to tell her about his father's offer. After Zuko had left the throne room a dark feeling about his father's intentions had been growing in his stomach. "What exactly did my father say to you at the ball last night?"

"Nothing really. He told me I looked nice but that was about it. He did try to kiss me."

"He WHAT?"

"I said he tried. I think he disappeared into his own world for a few seconds and though I was your mom." Katie said shivering slightly at the memory.

"Why didn't you tell me about it before?" Zuko asked anxiously.

"I don't know, I guess it just left my mind. Zuko, what's going on?" By this time they had reached their room.

"Just stay in here while I go talk to my uncle. I'll call for Imoen to keep you company." Zuko said hastily, he kissed Katie and then left her there in front of their door extremely confused.

"…He's lost his mind uncle. I don't know what to do. He's sending me to my death at a front line somewhere so he can get his hands on Katie." Zuko said sitting in his uncle's room with a cup of tea in his hands.

"Now prince Zuko, you are overreacting." Iroh said placing a comforting hand on his nephew's shoulder.

"What were we thinking when we brought her here? We should have known that something like this would happen."

"Nobody can foresee the future Zuko. And I'm telling you that you are overreacting. You're father merely wants to give you an easier chance to redeem your crown. He cares for you deeply and wants the dynasty to continue strongly."

"Then why would he look at me that way uncle? I saw hatred in his eyes. Hatred and anger directed at me. He doesn't give a damn about me, or this nation. He only cares about himself!" Iroh frowned at Zuko then grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.

"It is no use telling your concerns to me. We will speak with my brother and you will see that there is nothing for you to worry about." Iroh led Zuko to the throne room. "Tell the Firelord that his son and brother wish to speak with him." Iroh told a messenger. The small man disappeared through the door and returned a few seconds later nodding for them to enter. Ozai was out on his balcony once more, but his eyes were directed at a series of balconies across the courtyard. Zuko glanced in the direction he was looking and felt his stomach lurch. There was an open view of his room from here and Katie was out on the balcony talking animatedly with Imoen. He looked back at his father's face and saw a softness in his features that Zuko had never seen before. The face turned once more to slate when he turned to take notice of the two men beside him.

"You wished to speak to me brother?" Ozai said.

"Actually, Zuko did." Iroh said giving Zuko a gentle prod. Zuko raised his chin impressively.

"I appreciate your offer father. But I've decided that I would rather resume my search for the avatar." He said as boldly as he could.

"No." Ozai said giving Zuko a seething look. "No, the search for the avatar is a task I have entrusted to Admiral Zhao. It's too important to leave in the hands of a teenager. You will lead the forty-first in an attack against the city of Ba Sing Sei. If you succeed, then you will be welcomed back to the throne with honor. But if you fail, you will die." Ozai returned his attention once more to Katie who had begun brushing through her hair that was now almost to her shoulders. Zuko glanced over at his uncle and saw that he was completely shocked at Ozai's frankness.

"Ozai. The girl is not Zerita." Iroh said quietly. He too was beginning to see the danger of having broughther here. Ozai turned and shot a ball of flame at them. Working together they were barely able to hold back the immense heat of the attack. Ozai stopped and turned back to gaze across the courtyard once more.

"You will be watched prince Zuko. If you try to leave the palace, you will be captured and I will personally execute you. Your division ships out in four days. Leave me now." Iroh grabbed Zuko's arm and pulled him from the room quickly.

"I'm afraid you were right prince Zuko. I'm sorry I doubted you." Iroh muttered.

"It doesn't matter uncle. What am I supposed to do? The forty-first division has always been nothing but new recruits. There is no way I could take the capitol Earth city. I've been sentenced to death no matter which way I turn!" Iroh sighed, trying to think desperately for some advice to give his nephew, but nothing came to mind.

"We will meditate on this. Perhaps our ancestors have guidance they can give us." Iroh said placing a comforting hand on Zuko's shoulder.

"What am I going to tell Katie?" Zuko asked weakly.

"The only thing you should ever tell her. The truth. She's clever and may be able to give us ideas. And it would be good to prepare her for what may be coming." Iroh said. They walked the remaining distance to Zuko's room in silence.

"Thank you uncle." Zuko said placing a hand on the old man's shoulder. "Thank you for always standing beside me. You're the father I never had."

"And thank you for saying something so kind to a crazy old man." Iroh said gripping Zuko's shoulder in turn. Iroh turned and left to go back to his room and Zuko opened the door to his. Imoen had left and Katie was still out on the balcony watching the sun set over the ocean. Zuko stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face into her soft hair.

"So are you going to tell me what's going on?" Katie asked leaning back into his embrace. Zuko glanced across the courtyard at the grand balcony outside the throne room. A lone figure stood out watching the teenagers jealously. Zuko glared at that figure with all the hatred he could muster, wishing that some how he could strike the man dead from where he was standing.

"Yeah, I will. Come on. Let's go inside." Zuko pulled her back inside the room and closed the door.

Dun dun duuuunnnnn! Oh crap, tomorrow's monday. I'm dreading going back to school. If only I had filled all my credits last year. I've had senior-itis since last year when I was a junior. I just think my last year of high school is a waste of time. Especially my biology class. Anyways, please review. It would make me happy or whatever.