Day Fourteen

I was having a wonderful dream. The war was over and everything was as it should be; Ozai was defeated, Dad was home, Aang had mastered all the elements, and there were still Airbenders.

Some important person had gotten married as well. To celebrate that and the end of the war, there was a huge festival in a place I didn't recognize. I was there, dressed in the traditional coming of age outfit, minus the parka. (Wherever I was had a hot climate.) I was being twirled by boys my age and older, each one asking me to be their bride. I'd smile and say no, then dance with the next in line.

Finally, I reached the end of the line. I curtsied, and was instantly swept up in a fast waltz. I couldn't see who my partner was; I only knew that he was the one I'd been waiting for.

When the dance finally ended, my partner tightened his grip around my waist and pulled me into a passionate kiss. When we broke it, he whispered, "I love you." I stood back and looked at my partner.

It was Zuko.

I woke up with a jolt. What on Earth? Water Tribe girls didn't dance with boys/men until their wedding day; it was tradition. Even then, only the groom was allowed to kiss the bride so passionately. So why did I have a dream of what was clearly my wedding day? And why was it Zuko who kissed me?

It was clearly past dawn; sunlight peeped in from the grove's roof. My back wasn't sore anymore, thank heaven.

"You're awake." I rolled over to see Zuko was already up and meditating. The memory of my dream made me blush when I saw him. "How is your back?"

"Perfectly fine," I said, getting up. I realized that I hadn't brushed or braided my hair in about three days, so I took out the brush and began to get the twigs and such out from my chocolate hair.

Zuko went back to meditating. As I braided my hair, I watched the fire grow and shrink with each of Zuko's breaths. Passionate, strong, intimate. It's amazing how many traits of fire I see in Zuko, I thought with a small blush. That dream's kiss seemed so real…

"Are you okay?" I snapped back to earth and found Zuko looking at me. "You shuddered all of a sudden."

"Oh. Nothing," I said absently. "I was remembering my dream from last night. I'm fine," I insisted, seeing Zuko's skeptical look. "I'm not you; I don't deny when something's wrong with me." I went over to the oak that had the bag in it and pulled out some of the fruit. "Have you eaten?" At Zuko's nod, I bit into the peach I had grabbed.

"The water is beginning to recede," Zuko said casually. I nodded; I'd be able to get to Sokka and Aang soon. This whole adventure was taking its toll on me. My dress was ruined and my spare was back with my brother. Zuko's tunic and pants were in slightly better condition, but holes, rips, and tears were still visible. (There was one spot on his tunic that made the shirt look like it was liable to fall of at any given moment.) I was tired and missed my brother and Aang.

"I hope it doesn't rain for a long time in this island; I'd like to leave before I come of age," I said, laughing a bit as I said it.

"When would that be?" Zuko asked.

"My coming of age? Sixteen." I sighed. "I hope that Aang will have defeated the Fire Lord by then."

"The Water Tribes are a bit slow," Zuko remarked. I looked at him.

"What does that mean?"

"In the Fire Nation, coming of age is at fourteen. Then, usually at fifteen, you meet whomever you're going to end up marrying. Marriage usually follows a year or two later. I was…exiled before anything could be arranged," he added in a whisper.

I sat down next to him. "Is that good or bad?"

"In my case, good. Fire Nation women are full of guile and deceit. Not to mention they too much makeup." I laughed.

"Yeah, I guess it is a good thing," I said. Zuko stopped meditating and looked at me square on.

"Yes, it was," he whispered. The memory of the dream flooded back to me; how I longed for the feeling I felt during the dream to become reality.

Zuko stood and offered me his hand. I took it and was helped up. He wrapped his arms around my waist in a manner very similar to the way the dream-Zuko had. He leaned in and whispered in my ear. "I wouldn't have gotten to meet you if I hadn't been banished." I turned to embrace him.

Suddenly, alarm bells ran off in my head. Okay, Katara. Enough is enough. You shouldn't be so close to him.

My heart argued. Let her be. She's finally happy, and so is he.

Who cares if that monster is happy? He's going to end up hurting her.

He's not a monster; Ozai is. He just got on his bad side.

Not hard to do. Still, she doesn't…

Yes, she does.

There are a thousand reasons why she shouldn't love him, including her age!

That's the funny thing about true love; even when the head says no, the heart still loves. True love comes whenever a person is ready for it; she's more than ready.

Love? The thought shocked and pleased me. Was I truly in love with Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation? Wasn't I bit too young? In addition, we were polar opposites. Besides, what if he is just playing me to get to Aang?

Didn't you understand me? When there are a thousand reasons not to love, we still do. Why do you think Sokka is still in love with Yue, even though she is the Moon Spirit? However, that may change…

I ignored that last thought. I couldn't love Zuko. Even if he felt the same way, as soon as the water recedes, things will go back to normal. We're from two different worlds.

I couldn't think anymore because Zuko's hands tightened around my waist. I felt him heat up as he held me close. His golden eyes burned with such intensity, I nearly swooned. I ached for some unknown reason. It wasn't physical pain, but an inner ache, a need for something.

I found out what that something was as Zuko brought me into a passionate kiss. At first I was shocked, but then I forgot all else. I closed my eyes and kissed him back, the ache gradually being soothed. I felt the same way now as I had during my dream.

When we broke apart, the ache was gone. I hoped that he would whisper those sweet words he had whispered in my dream, but I knew it wasn't going to happen. That had just been a wonderful dream. It could never happen.

The embrace slipped and we each returned to what we had been doing previously; Zuko was meditating and I was…doing absolutely nothing. Finally, the silence got to me.

"I'll be back. I need to do something or I'm going to crack," I told Zuko, who just nodded.

I headed straight for the fence. The water below truly had gone down, but not a lot. I could see the roofs of the taller houses and some treetops that had been covered in the flood. Sighing, I sat myself on the fence top.

To be blunt, I was extremely frustrated. I knew that I shouldn't have enjoyed that kiss, or the feel of his body against mine. I should fear it when he puts his arms around me, not feel safe. That dream should have been a nightmare, not a wonderful fantasy.

Yet, I did enjoy those things; I even longed for them sometimes. I bended some of the water up to me to relieve the frustration. It wasn't fair. Why was it that particular prince that I felt this way about? Why couldn't it have been someone else, like Aang or even someone we haven't met yet? Then I wouldn't feel torn between two worlds.

I threw a rock from the fence into the water below. Life as a fourteen-year-old girl is too confusing for me.

I was only out there for fifteen minutes when something or someone pushed me into the water below. "Zuko!" I cried when I popped back up, spitting water. "What was that for?" The Fire Prince was standing behind the fence, his arms crossed and a smirk playing around his lips.

"You seemed half-asleep," he said.

I swam over to the wall. "And that gave you rights to dunk me?"

Zuko nodded, then ducked as I threw icicles at him. I climbed out of the water and bended the moisture out of my hair and clothes. "Jerk," I muttered.

"You really think so?" he asked. I turned to Zuko.

"Well, you shoved me into the water. Of course I'm going to think you're a jerk right now," I explained.

"What about later?"

What was it with this guy? Was he flirting? "Maybe," I replied. Was I flirting? Did all fourteen-year-olds get this confused when faced with the object of an internal battle? I absently scratched at a bug bite on my arm, annoyed.

Zuko turned to go. He paused, ready to say something, then shook his head and walked on.

I sighed and turned back to the water. This was too confusing.

Poor Katara.

I've already got an idea for my next fic! With Yue! Of course, that won't be out until this is done, which won't be for a few more chapters. Stay tuned.