O.O wow! So many ppl waiting for me to update! Lol, I have fans! Anyway here is the next chapter!

Chapter 7

The day had come and Katara was regretting it. She had such a lovely time with Zuko that she didn't want it to end so soon. She wanted to stay but her people needed her home, she sighed her life was much more complicated now. She wondered what would happen if she did decide to marry Zuko, would her councilors agree with that decision? She was worried that her people would frown upon such a union, but wouldn't the end results be worth it? She twisted a cloth in her hands. Why do old wounds have to run so deep? Why can't I be happy?

She had to admit Zuko made her happy. She enjoyed his smile, his humor, how he dressed, his smelled even the sound of his voice was pleasant to her. There was so much about him that she liked not to mention the fact he was extremely good looking. The thought of him without a shirt on sent chills up her spine, she wondered what the rest of him looked like. She opened her eyes and flushed, she had never had thoughts like that before even about Aang. She shook her head and quickly got out of the water, she was too hot to be in there anymore. Wrapping a towel around herself she made her way to the dressing chamber where Mira was busily putting away gowns into a trunk for the journey home. " Did you enjoy your soak, my lady?" She looked up noting how flushed Katara looked. " Was the water too hot?"

" A little." She put on her robes for the day and tied them securely. " Mira."

" Yes, my lady?" She looked up from her work. Katara stood at the window looking out, silence hung between them for a few moments.

" I was just wondering, if I wanted to stay here a few more weeks would you want to stay or go home?" She was absently looking at the gardens.

" My lady, I came to you with nothing, no family, no job, nothing to my name and you took me in." She came over to the window and placed a hand on Katara's shoulder. " I am honored to be your handmaiden, I will stay with you till the end."

" Thank you, Mira." She embraced her handmaiden. She nearly started crying from the joy she felt. " You are my closest friend, you know that."

" I know." They pulled away. " So I guess I need to start putting everything back into the wardrobe?" She said with a grin.

Katara smiled weakly, " I'm afraid so." She rushed off to find Sokka and Aang.

Finding them was easy; they were lounging around in Sokka's room getting ready to collect the rest of the royal guard at the entrance of the castle.

" I want to stay a bit longer." Sokka twitched in his seat she could see the heat rising to his face.

" How long?" Katara looked away from him preparing for the oncoming attack.

" Three weeks."

Sokka launched out of the chair and screamed. " WHY?" He started pacing circles around the room trying to control the rage boiling in his veins.

" Sokka calm down, I'm sure Katara has a reasonable explanation for this." The warrior still kept pacing practically killing the air around him.

" Thank you, Aang." She turned back to Sokka. " I would like to spend more time with Zuko. I don't think its right to leave him yet, we have only been dating for a week."

" That's long enough." Sokka grumbled and kept pacing. " You have a duty towards your men, you know."

" I know. That's why I've decided to have you all go home without me." She watched as he stopped dead in his tracks.

" There is no way I'm gonna let you stay here alone." Katara nodded.

" Mira is staying with me."

" A handmaiden isn't going to protect you!" Sokka knew he made a mistake from the look his sister gave him.

" From what?" She stood fury dripping in her voice. " What is there to protect me from?" She demanded.

" I don't know!" Sokka cowered back a bit.

" Nothing will happen to me here Sokka." She said a bit more calmly. " When I come home I'm sure that Lord Zuko will provide me an armed guard."

Sokka looked away and grumbled. " Fine, but I want to hear that from his lordship myself."

" Good." Katara made her way to the door and beckoned them to follow. " Zuko will be arriving at my room soon. We wanted to have breakfast one last time." Sokka rolled his eyes but followed his sister with Aang close behind. When they entered the hallway they saw Zuko standing at Katara's door getting ready to knock. " See, what did I tell you?" She quickened her pace. " Zuko!"

Zuko turned to see Katara rushing toward him. She looked lovely this morning with her hair tied back in its usual fashion her braid bouncing behind her. " Good morning."

" We have something to discuss." She took his hands and smiled. " I have decided to stay with you for a while longer."

Zuko couldn't contain his joy he squeezed her into a tight hug. " That's wonderful news. My uncle will be very pleased that you're staying with us too."

" But we have to get some things straight first." Sokka came up to them and frowned. " I don't care if you are the Fire Lord, but I do care about my sister, if anything happens to her while she's here I'll make you wish you were never born."

Zuko smiled inwardly, he had no doubt her master warrior would back those words up. " I give you my word as Fire Lord that I will take excellent care of your sister. Nothing will happen while she stays with us."

Sokka nodded and walked away in a huff. Aang rubbed his head and smiled at Zuko. " Sorry about him, you know how over protective brothers are. Well, have a good breakfast." He ran off after Sokka.

" Shall we?" Zuko took her hand and they made their way to breakfast.

Iroh saw their approach from the pagoda; Katara was holding onto Zuko's arm and leaning against him. Iroh smiled he was glad to see Zuko happy for once.

" Good morning!" Katara waved at Iroh as they approached.

" Good morning, Katara, Zuko." They sat down with the old man.

" I have good news, uncle." Iroh looked up from his tea. " Katara has decided to stay with us for a while longer."

" That's wonderful." He turned to her. " Then you will accompany us to the eastern fire lands."

" What's there?" She said sipping the tea offered by Iroh.

Zuko swallowed some bread. " I have some business over there. It won't take but a few days, but the landscape is lovely in that region."

" I see. Will we get to see any of those water systems you told me about?"

Zuko nodded." We will pass by a few, we can tour them along the way."

" Good. I can't wait to see them." She finished her breakfast and stood quickly. " I'm sorry but I need to write a letter to my council before my guard leaves."

" Wait!" Zuko grabbed her hand. " I want to give you something." Katara gave him a curious look. Iroh reached behind him and pulled out a large box. " I wanted you to have this before you left but now that your not leaving I can see you in it."

Katara opened the box and lifted a red and gold kimono out she didn't know what to say, it was so beautiful. There was an entire landscape embroidered into it depicting flowers, mountains and birds. " This is the most wonderful gift I have ever received." Her smile at that moment could have brightened any day. " Thank you so much!" She reached over and kissed Zuko on the cheek. She quickly put the kimono back in the box and ran off.

Iroh smiled at his nephew who was as red as his shirt. " I believe that went over very well." Zuko put a hand up to where Katara had kissed him and he agreed with his uncle completely.

Katara's royal guard was gathered at the castle entrance. They had been told that their Queen wanted to stay here for another few weeks but they didn't understand why. Master Warrior Sokka and Avatar Aang had said they were going home at the Queen's request but many of the water warriors felt odd leaving their queen behind.

When Katara came out of the castle questions bombarded her. " Silence, please!" The voices quickly died. " I know that my request seems rather odd to you but I have my reasons. I will be touring other parts of the Fire Nation, I am interested in the technology used by the people here. I am also pursuing a peaceful relationship between our two nations. The Fire Lord has promised to protect me during my stay and an armed guard for my return home." Some grumbling came from the crowd but they accepted what their Queen said.

" Well then I guess were off." Aang came up to her and bowed.

" Here Aang." She handed him a scroll. " This is for the council explaining all that has passed. Have a safe journey."

Sokka came up to her and hugged his sister. " Be safe. If he does anything to hurt you I'll make him pay for it."

" I know you will." She released their hug and turned to her men. " I wish you all a safe journey home. May the spirits of the moon and water watch over you." They all bowed to her and slowly made their way from the castle. Katara continued to watch them leave until she couldn't see them anymore.

She started whimpering and felt the tears streak down her cheeks. Suddenly there was a hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked up at the face of the Fire Lord, Zuko. She collapsed in his arms and continued sobbing. She was afraid of the reaction of her council towards the letter she gave Aang. She was afraid of her fate.

Well there you go guys! Hope your happy with it, although this chappie is not terribly long. Did you guys really think I would separate the two lovebirds so quickly? No way! I still have more fluffy lovey dovey chapters to go! Pls R&R! Love you all!