I... I'm just gonna skip straight to the story... sorry guys, but u'll have to wait for the citrus. I just can't write it right now...

Zuko watched with content as Katara stretched the fatigue of sleep out of her limbs, breathing in the fresh ocean air out on the balcony.

"It's such a beautiful morning..." It was a soft, gentle murmur, but she knew Zuko could hear it. Absolutely all of his attention was foccused on her. She smiled warmly, leaning against the steel railing and letting the breeze whip through her loose hair. Living on the ocean seemed like the perfect life to her, and a lot of the time she couldn't really understand why Zuko didn't like it. She was slightly aware of the sound of him moving around in the room, walking out onto the balcony with her.

"I think you're prettier than any sky or morning..." He whispered in her ear, gently stroking her silky chestnut hair. She really was gorgeous. Katara smiled and leaned back against his body, allowing Zuko's arms to snake around her waist while his chin rested on her shoulder. Together they looked at the rising sun, just enjoying one another's company.

Katara smiled a bit more, remembering when the slightest touch from Zuko would make her blush darker than a rose. Now she felt like, well... there was really only one word to describe the way that she now felt for Zuko.

Love.

She knew that it was quick, but... if they were truly meant to be, then... why wouldn't it have been? Zuko looked at Katara, his eyes showing so many emotions. She had this effect on him... it was like every time he saw her, it felt like he was being healed. And that night... well... she was just so... perfect. Like an angel. Zuko kissed Katara's cheek, smiling. His chibi tenchi.

Katara watched the white clouds roll across the lavender sky, her eyes wide with awe. The sea was a stunning sapphire; it was calm, peaceful. The boat hardly rocked, as there were hardly any waves. Everything just seemed so calm.

As for how long they stood there like that, there really was no way to tell. At one point in time Zuko had shifted so that he was leaning his back against the wall, still holding Katara close and placing the occasional soft kiss on the top of her head. Slowly, the sounds of morning rose to their ears. Soldiers awoke and got to their chores, their talk much lighter than it was in the afternoon. Nobody was really a morning person on the ship. Not when you got rocked to sleep the previous night in the boat, like a baby in a cradle...

Katara sighed and turned to face Zuko, knowing that this moment of piece wasn't going to last much longer. She placed a gentle kiss on his lips, nuzzling against his neck with what almost sounded like a purr. Of course, that just wouldn't be like Katara...

Zuko stroked her back languidly, not wanting to leave her side. He never wanted Katara out of his arms again. This wasn't very realistic, but he could still dream. Dream of being with Katara for the rest of his life.

And then it hit him. He already would be spending the rest of his life with her. They were going to get married. Zuko felt his heart soar, squeezing Katara extra tight. She giggled as he kissed her several times, smiling and laughing and picking her up. Katara giggled and squirmed when he spun her around, suddenly holding her bridal-style and walking back into their room. He was just so happy...

That was when it came. The first sign of... IT. Katara started coughing, so Zuko gently set her down on the bed.

"Sorry, Katara. I didn't mean to spin you THAT much." He grinned placing a soft kiss on her lips. Katara giggled.

"No, I don't think it wa-" She was interrupted by another series of coughs, these ones more violent, shaking her body and making her wince from the pain in her chest. Zuko wasn't smiling anymore.

"Is everything alright! Are you feeling okay!" Zuko was trying, he was trying really hard, but he was failing. Zuko was panicking. Katara was now sneezing, on her eigth one straight. This looked a bit worse than a cold. That much he knew for sure. Katara's eyes were bloodshot and watering slightly while she tried to catch her breath. It wasn't really that easy for her to get any air in her lungs at that moment, and she was getting scared. Her throat was dry and sore, and every breath she took seemed to evoke another three or four coughs from her.

"I'm going to go get Kianna..." Zuko hugged Katara, instructing her to lie down. Katara nodded, the volume of her coughs growing.

Kianna was worried the second she saw Zuko racing towards her, panic and concern written all over his face. Kianna stood up immediately. "What is it?"

"It's Katara. She just got into a fit of coughs and sneezes, and I know it's not a cold, and" Kianna held up a hand, silencing her brother. She raced to her room, grabbing a few things, then ran up to go check Katara.

Zuko followed his sister in close pursuit, forcing himself not to become impatient when she had stopped in her room.

Katara looked up at Kianna weakly, and Zuko paled at the sight of the young waterbender. Her once tanned skin was now a pasty white, and when he placed a hand on her forehead he noticed that she was clamy, cold sweat pouring down her head and back. Kianna motioned for Zuko to give her some space, putting some kind of magic gel on her hands before resting them on Katara's bare stomach. She mouthed a few words in an ancient language, and her hands and arms began to glow, as well as a great deal of the area around Katara's stomach. Zuko knew that it was most likely healing, but he was still worried. What was going on!

Katara groaned, her head turning so that she was facing Zuko. He saw the pain and fear in her eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to make it all go away. He leaned forward and kissed her gently, smoothing damp bangs away from her forehead. "Shhh, it'll be okay, Katara. Everything's going to be okay."

Hours later Zuko was trying to settle down in his training room, but it wasn't working at all. His worry for Katara was consuming all other thoughts. He stood up quickly when Kianna entered the room, but he had to keep himself from shouting at the look on his sister's face.

"Zuko..."

He didn't want to hear it. He wanted her to shut up and go away...

"Zuko, Katara, she..." tears welled up in Kianna's eyes, spilling down her cheeks. "Little brother I'm so sorry..." She choked.

Zuko fell to his knees, sobbing. "Katara... Ka...tar...a..." He threw his head back and let the flames egulf his body, anger and sadness running hot through his veins. "KATARA!"

Zuko shot up in bed, panting, sweating. He then realized two things. One, he was naked. And two... there was another naked person cuddling up to him. Looking over, he sighed with relief when he saw Katara snuggling against him, trying to get Zuko to lay back down. Zuko smiled and complied, wrapping his arms around the naked girl... Wait a second. It was like a click could be heard in Zuko's mind. Naked girl. Naked Katara. Mischeif began to dance in Zuko's eyes as he looked down at the sleeping form, remembering what had happened between them. He wanted round two...

For now, his nightmare was pressed into the back of his mind. All that mattered at that moment was Katara and the bed, and the cute little whines and whimpers and moans that he had heard her make only hours ago.

"Oh Katara..." He whispered in her ear, licking at it like a cat. Katara's eyes popped open, a shy smile spreading on her lips. She turned her head to allow Zuko to kiss her, shivering happily when his hands began to massage between her legs. Apparently it didn't take Zuko long to recover from an orgasm.

I kno, i kno... very short chapter. Ne who, I didn't put a single A/N in there. I so proud of myself! Also, i realize that this was supposed to be the nummy lemon part, but, like i said, u'll have ta wait. Probably till next chapter. I guess I'm not really in the mood right now. Man, Zuko sure did have a nice way to wake up from a bad dream. Actually, I'm gonna post one of my other fics that I had written a few months again. It shall be titled "Hold". That one has a lemon in it, so, if it helps, try reading that one. I personally think I totally suck at writing lemons. Seriously. And if I DO end up writing a lemon for this story in itself, it will be posted as a different story. That way, if it gets deleted, this story is still up and I can just add on a different chapter. Worse comes to worse I'll just put the lemon up on I am officially at the point where I can go in many directions with the story. Besides killing Zhao (darkavatar13 ), what do you think should happen? A fight? Another person, like Haru? Pregnancy? I promise the wedding will be soon. Actually, really soon... most likely. I just need them to get married! Wife or husband just sounds so much better than fiance, dont'cha think? O, and about the gloomy opening, I was really, really depressed when I started this chapter. But I'm better now. TY again to all of my wonderful reviewers! U all make me so very happy. I have more reviews for this story than I all of the reviews for every other fic I've written totalled up. Isn't that sad?