disclaimer: I don't own ATLA

"Katara…" Zuko hissed, making it look like he was talking in his sleep. Though there were no guards, he didn't want to take any chances. A shuffle of movement reassured him as Katara kept lithely in the shadows until she came to him. He sat up and had Aang crawl over to block her from sight. Once he was sure no one outside the cell that happened to be there could see her, he studied her.

Her breathing slightly labored, she clutched one of the three various arrow-wounds. Blood soaked through her shirt, causing it to cling to her form. Zuko blinked and looked back into her face. Her tanned face was pale and was rapidly coloring with the pink flush of fever, though her eyes were steady and calm.

"Where's Sokka?" She whispered.

Walking over carefully to where Aang had pointed to Sokka's body, she shook him awake. Blearily, he opened his eyes.

"Kat...ara?" He asked weakly, his gaze focusing and unfocusing on her. Katara smiled, blinking back tears. She kissed his forehead lightly, working water in her water-skin around her hand, and then placed it on Sokka's wounds. Slowly, she cleaned the infection out, the wounds healing up nicely. When his body was only covered in thin scratches and light bruises, she fell backwards, her face gleaming with sweat.

"Katara!" Zuko cried, rushing to her side. She looked up at him, her body limp. Smiling thinly, she raised her still water sheathed hand and healed the gash on his head that had knocked him unconscious.

"Get Laborc out." She whispered, closing her eyes tightly as a fit of coughs racked her body. Aang scrambled over to the great cat and unchained him expertly. Zuko gently helped Katara into the sitting position, his warm hand on her back distracting her.

"Okay, I know a way out." Katara croaked, rubbing her eyes. Zuko wouldn't let his hand budge from supporting her. Turning to tell him that he could let go, she didn't realize how close they were. His face a mere inch from hers, his eyes looked into hers, the golden orbs mesmerizing her. Shifting his head closer, he lightly touched his lips to hers before pulling back.

Warm with hope, Katara whispered the plan to them.

"Just, come on!" Katara whined, beckoning for Zuko to climb onto Laborc. Aang stifled a laugh as Zuko clumsily clambered on. Sitting himself between Aang and Katara, he gripped her waist, pulling her into his warm embrace. Katara sighed contentedly, cradling Sokka closer. Aang watched Katara and Zuko, a spark of jealousy lighting his eyes.

"Come on, big boy." Katara whispered, urging Laborc forward. Obligingly, he raced out of the dungeons, sprinting out into the corridor. A couple of guards shouted angrily but were silenced by a jet of flame by Zuko.

Running towards the sewer grate, Laborc slowed down, waiting for Zuko to melt the bars. Once that was done, he plunged into the intricate tunnels of the sewer, guided by Zuko. Katara relaxed the further along they got, until she could've fallen asleep in Zuko's arms.

Soon, they charged out and into the middle of a forest where the Fire Nation dumped their waste. Aang all but fell off, his legs stiff and chaffed. Katara had help from Zuko with sliding Sokka off.

"Tell me what has happened." Aang demanded, scouting close around for a stream.

"It's a long story. But I'll first start off with Yue. When a nightingale calls on the full moon, I have to find the chosen oasis- usually a clear, small pond. I have to engulf my body in the water- sort of sheathing it like I do my hand when I heal. Then…" Katara paused, her brows furrowing.

Then, it's like my body rises and then bursts into light, riding the moonbeams to the moon spirit. The beams are like stairways…stairways to heaven. Once at Moon's Light, that's what the Spirit World where Yue dwells is called, I'm…never mind." She said, blushing as she thought that she was about to tell them she's stark naked when she's in Haven.

"Yue has been a 'guide'-for lack of a better word- to me. She has helped me locate you guys. She also… came back to life." Katara said, getting more confused than ever. "I met her mother at Haven- another name for Moon's Light."

"Fascinating...maybe I should try that when I want to talk to Gyatso." Aang said, giving a yelp of triumph as he found a stream. Weakly, he fell into it, sighing in relief to have the grime of at least a year washed a way.

Katara giggled, finding the packs she had stashed in a tree's hollow. Grabbing clothes, she walked unsteadily to the stream. Raising a wall of ice between her and Aang, she stripped and sank into the frigid water, biting a scream as a floating piece of bark collided with a wound. Dizzy with her head and wound pounding, she gripped the bank, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Let me help you." Zuko whispered in her ear, his warm body pressed tantalizingly against hers. Her back flush against his toned chest, she shivered when she realized he was naked also.

Throwing pride to the winds, she nodded, leaning into his embrace once more; letting him wash her. Katara didn't notice or care that Zuko could see every inch of her body- let alone that he was touching every inch of her body. Sighing in relief as her wounds were cleaned, she turned to face him.

"Zuko…" She whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. He gingerly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into the middle of the stream, guiding her in a circle in the deeper water.

"Katara…" Zuko murmured, kissing her evenly on her neck. Katara gasped as she felt his tongue flick her neck. "May I?" He asked his voice husky with longing.

"May you what?" She teased, no longer bothered by the cold of the water.

"May I claim you?" He hummed seductively. Katara shivered.

"Not all the way…" She whimpered, feeling her pulse beat rapidly. Zuko smiled, as if he expected that answer.

"Not all the way…" He agreed, pulling her into a deep, passionate kiss.

Zuko watched as Katara curled into her sleeping bag, closing her eyes as tears streamed down her face. Sighing, he crawled over to her. Gently, he pulled the sleeping bag open and slunk in, enveloping her in his warmth.

"I didn't know your first time would hurt you so much." He whispered into her ear. He kissed her tears away, smiling softly at her.

"It's okay. It always hurts girls the first time. She whispered back, burying her face into his chest. The firelight flickered down until it was only embers. Zuko kissed her neck lovingly.

"Zuko?" Katara asked hesitantly.

"Yes?" He responded softly, still preoccupied by her neck.

"I think… I think we should slow down." Zuko pulled away slightly, disappointment etched on his face.

"Alright… but just remember I'm always waiting for you." He said quietly, pulling himself free of her and her sleeping bag and walking slowly to his own.

"I'm sorry." Katara whispered to the night as she fell asleep.

One MONTHE LATER

"Sokka! Watch out!" Aang yelled, while Katara laughed hysterically as Momo shot at Sokka while he was eating. The flying lemur collided with Sokka's head, but this time he was prepared. He gripped his chicken leg tightly so it wouldn't drop.

Zuko smiled but went back to tracking for game. Katara sat back down on a rock in the middle of the small lake, no more than 50 feet across and wide.

"Aang! Bring me some food!" Katara called, the perfect imitation of Sokka's bellow. Aang laughed and bent the air around some food to float over to her.

"Thanks!" She yelled before she dug into the spiced rice. Idly, Katara played with the water, bending it into letters and pictures. Glancing up, she saw Zuko watching her and she smiled. Turning away from her, he entered the woods. Shaking her head, she shoved the strawberries into her mouth and chewed hastily. Next, she tucked the small box of raspberries in her belt and solidified a low thin bridge of ice to the shore.

Walking steadily across, she bent the water into roses and tulips. When she had created over two hundred ice flowers, she flew them into the air and watched happily as they floated down into the water as rain drops.

"Where are we going?" Sokka asked, swallowing a mouth full of pheasant.

"Kyoshi Island." Aang said, tricking Momo into falling off a tree branch. Sokka guffawed as the lemur picked himself up and brushed his coat of fur like any man would do.

"Sokka, will you tell me what they did to you in the prison? It's been over one month." Katara asked innocently, sitting cross legged across from him. Sokka shook his head as he continued to laugh at Momo. Sighing, she looked around.

"This looks familiar." She commented, popping a raspberry into her mouth.

"That's because it is. It's the lake where we practiced water bending right before you stole that scroll." Aang said, leaning back onto Appa's leg. Katara blushed but decided not to say anything as Zuko walked into the clearing.

Absently, she rubbed her navel at the sight of him, wondering if she was just sick or if she really was-

"We should get going." Zuko said bluntly, already loading their packs onto Appa. Sokka and Aang had learned to trust Zuko, so they scrambled up onto Appa without a second thought. Katara, however, looked down at her stomach, thinking, Am I just getting fat?

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Katara clambered up onto Appa, followed closely by Zuko. She situated herself in the back, her usual spot. As Appa lifted of and his altitude increased, the air became colder until Katara was shivering along with the Sokka. Aang never seemed to be bothered by the cold, and Zuko was able to warm himself so Katara motioned for her brother to come sit next to her. Hastily, he crawled over to his sister and they huddled together.

Soon, Sokka fell asleep, along with Aang, leaving Katara and Zuko in an awkward silence. Pulling her brother closer to her for more warmth, she averted her gaze from him and stared out at the moon.

"Are you thinking about her?" Zuko asked, walking easily to her. She nodded, glancing at his perfectly balanced body. He sat down next to her and heated the air around him. Katara watched him as he scooted closer to help warm her.

"I don't mean to be difficult." Katara murmured, noting his tenseness. He relaxed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Katara snuggled into his hug, careful to keep Sokka in touch so he wouldn't freeze.

"It's okay. You know what? Sometimes it is difficult. Watching the girl of my dreams, yet never able to touch her." Zuko whispered. Katara shuddered delightfully and pressed closer against him.

"You're touching me now." She pointed out.

"Yes, but not in the way I dream." He said slowly, making sure she caught his drift. Katara blushed as she realized what he meant.

"You know I think we should get to know each other better before we do…that again." Katara retorted. Zuko sighed, but pulled her impossibly close. "But you know what? I've never slept deeper than now when I know you're here."

"Then sleep." Zuko lulled, stroking her hair. Katara, unable to resist the calm of his voice, fell asleep.

Sorry about the escape scene-thiny..I had to write it about three times(all of which were worse than this one), soo...that's how it turned out

Also,sorry it's so short and late..I've been busy..my school is really working us hard for the SAT's...or whatever they're called...but don't fret, expect more of this within five days along with Protector of the Crescent and Rebirth: You abandon me...maybe even With A Vengeance- which I'm a little lost on...

Over and Out!

Erica