What better way to try and get readers than adding multiple chapters on the same day? We are going to start getting into the Zutara action. I felt like I had to resolve some stuff before I got into this. There is some sexual content in this chapter so I'll give it a light M.

Katara and Zuko had said their goodbyes to everyone and started by boat to the fire nation 2 days ago. Katara was standing leaning on the rail taking in the evening air. She tried to spend as much time as possible on the deck being closer to the water instead of surrounded by metal. Zuko walked up next to her. She hadn't been avoiding him but hadn't gone out of her way to spend time with him either.

"I'm glad you accepted my invitation," He said. Katara was happy he wanted her to come.

"Of course, I have a duty to my nation" She looked in his golden eyes. Lost for a moment. "So um besides Haru who else do you have in mind? You still need someone from the northern water tribe," Zuko let out a sigh. He leaned his back against the railing and looked towards the sky.

"I don't know anyone from the northern tribe so I figured I'd just send a messenger hawk and hope they agree," he paused "Actually I was hoping you would write the message. I feel like we'd have better luck if you sent it" He was probably right. She could send one to Yagoda, she would vogue for Katara with the council.

"I think I know someone I can write to that would help," Zuko didn't smile but he relaxed some.

"Thank you" He held her gaze. Her heart fluttered some.

"Yeah- um of course," she managed. Now that they weren't with the gang she didn't know what to do. They had only secretly exchanged looks and small gestures.

"Have you been avoiding me?" He was being so direct. She blushed.

"Not necessarily"

"Then why have I barely seen you?" He raised his eyebrow. Her natural instinct was to get defensive but she knew that wouldn't help anything. So instead she looked down and admitted,

"Because I don't know what to do around you".

"Hey," he lifted her chin to look at him. She was surprised at how gentle his touch was. "We'll figure it out together". She blushed again. "You like me right Katara?" He asked and she realized neither one of them had said it.

"Yeah, I do," This got a smile from Zuko.

"Good because I like you too" She didn't know what to do besides hide her face in his chest. They hadn't truly hugged since she knew he would live after diving in front of lightning for her. His arms around her felt amazing, warm, safe, like home.

Zuko inhaled the smell of Katara as she hugged him. She smelled sweet with a hint of the ocean. She fit perfectly in his arms, against his body. Too soon she pulled away.

"I guess we should write those notes" She said.

"Yes, but they can wait. This is the first time we have talked about something other than the work ahead since we left Ba Sing Se," He searched her eyes to see how she felt. Zuko has never been a fan of being around people. And he especially never liked them knowing about his personal life. "Let's go to my room where people aren't around and we can talk freely," He hoped she didn't think he was trying to pull anything. As much as he wanted to feel and see every part of her, he respected her and didn't want her to be uncomfortable. Well, he wouldn't mind her being a little uncomfortable but not in that way. He brought his focus back to the girl in front of him. She nodded. So Zuko led them to his chambers.

Katara entered looking very unsure of what to do.

"Katara, do you trust me?"

"Yeah, I really do" She answered with more confidence than he anticipated.

"Come sit with me, I'm not going to do anything" He assured her. As much as I want to. She came and sat next to him on the large bed.

"Zuko" she looked at him "I don't know what I'm doing" She seemed embarrassed. Zuko couldn't help but laugh. "Hey!" She shot him a look, a mean angry one.

"I'm sorry, it's just you are one of the most powerful benders I've ever seen and this is what makes you nervous?" When they first met she had no idea what she was doing but when they went to track down the Southern Raiders, Agni. He had never seen so much power aside from the avatar. She controlled someone through bloodbending and stopped rain as if it was child's play. She still looked upset. "I'm sorry," he said again and took her hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb.

"Have you… you know, do you have umm, experience?" She wouldn't look at him. He felt a pang of guilt.

"Yeah, I do" Zuko didn't want to lie to her.

"With Mai?"

"Yeah," Zuko didn't like how he and Mai ended things back at his coronation, but it needed to happen.

"Are you two..?"

"No, we aren't" He looked down.

"I'm sorry"

"Are you?" He asked looking at Katara.

"No, I guess I'm not," She finally met his gaze. He longed for her touch, needed it. He wanted her.

"Can I kiss you Katara?" She nodded. He brought his lips to hers gently. She seemed to have less reserve, she seemed hungry for more. Zuko kissed her with passion, trying to convey how much he cared for her. Katara's hands moved to his hair as she leaned further into him. They were still sitting next to each other on the bed. He wanted to change that, he wanted to throw her down and lie on top of her. He wanted to hold her. Against his own desire Zuko broke the kiss.

"No, come back" Katara looked at him, pleading.

"This wasn't the plan, we're supposed to talk. And I don't want to push you especially because you're new to this." Zuko was completely caught off guard because Katara started laughing.

"Zuko, I may not have the experience you do but I'm not completely new to this. I've kissed before."

"Aang doesn't count" He said quickly, quicker than he should have.

"Not just Aang"

"Who?" He was jealous and for him jealousy always came off as anger.

"Zuko relax, it was Jet." She said calmly.

"Jet?! Agni Katara" he started to stand up but she grabbed his arm to pull him back on the bed.

"I'm not saying I'm proud of it but it happened" She was being open and he couldn't be angry. He took a deep breath.

"Sorry" He mumbled.

"It's ok"

"Sorry," Zuko mumbled

"It's ok" Katara wasn't mad. She was annoyed at him, she could have a past too. But then some part of her also liked that Zuko was being possessive. She moved her hand to his cheek. He was always warm, she supposed it was just a fire bender thing. Her touch probably felt cool on his skin but he didn't move away. Katara leaned in to kiss him. He turned and moved her so she was straddling him.

His lips on hers felt amazing. She wasn't one for tongue and it seemed neither was he. She wanted to be as close to him as possible. She wanted him, spirits she wanted him. The desire only grew as his hands moved to explore her body pausing on her hips. She ground into him and could feel he was hard. She took her hands and started to untie the waistband of Zuko's casual shirt. His hands grabbed hers.

"Katara" He looked at her searching for something.

"It's not like I haven't seen you shirtless before," she stated.

"This isn't what you want" Katara fumed.

"Isn't what I want? Who are you to tell me what I want?!" She jabbed her finger at his chest.

"No, I didn't mean it like that. 10 minutes ago you were scared to be alone with me and now-" He trailed off. "I don't think we should go any further, not yet".

"Fine" She pouted like a child. Zuko laughed.

"Come here" He pulled her down to spoon her. She felt at ease and she hadn't felt that in a long time.

"Zuko"

"Mhm?"

"Don't let me go" She said meaning it in more ways than one. He tightened his grip and whispered into her hair.

"I won't". Sometime after that, and Katara didn't know when, she fell asleep. Sleeping so close to Zuko at the beach house she had wanted this in the past, dreamed about it. Never did she think it would feel this right.

Katara rolled over to see Zuko looking at her.

"Good morning" He said sweetly and kissed her on the forehead.

"What time is it?" She groaned.

"A little after sunrise" He told her "I rise with the sun"

"Well I don't," Katara said, wanting more sleep but she knew she wouldn't get any more. Zuko chuckled at this.

"Yeah? Well I'm sure you'll keep me up with the moon plenty," Katara lightly smacked him for his comment, but smiled to herself. She was happy to hear Zuko talk like that. Her head was on his chest and she could hear his strong steady heart. She wondered if she could raise his heart rate. Deciding to test it out, she slid her hand down Zuko's, sadly, fully clothed body towards his member. He immediately stopped her.

"That's not going to go anywhere good" He said meeting her eyes as she looked up at him. Katara's brain started to spiral. He had stopped her multiple times now, maybe he doesn't really want this. Maybe he doesn't think she's attractive.

"Do you, do you not want to?" She whispered. Zuko seemed shocked.

"Of course I do. I don't want you to regret anything," his words were filled with honesty. "And if we started I don't know if I'd have the strength to stop."

"But you'd stop if I told you to?"

"Of course, how could you think I wouldn't?" Katara smiled.

"Then there's no problem"

"Would you tell me to stop?" He eyed her. She paused not wanting to admit it but she wouldn't. She wants him and needs him.

"Spirits" She lay her head back on his chest in defeat. "No, I wouldn't"

There was a knock at the door.

"Fire lord, sir, we have spotted the shore and will be docking shortly" A crew member says through the door.

"Very well, thank you" Zuko's voice was so authoritative, it turned Katara on. When she looked up at him, he looked tired, not at all how he looked moments ago. He looked at her. "Time to get up. We have a world to piece back together," Unenthused Katara pushed herself off Zuko so he could get up. "Why don't you go to your room and put on some fresh clothes and I'll see you at breakfast?" Katara just nodded and reluctantly left.

Zuko heard the door to his chamber close and let out a long sigh.

"I want you so badly Katara, you have no idea" He said to himself. The image of her grinding against him played on repeat through his mind as he changed into royal robes. She drove him crazy.

As Zuko put the golden flame in his hair he was hit by reality. He was almost home, the work hadn't even started. He could only imagine the number of meetings he was going to have today. Why couldn't they have gotten lost in a storm and had another day or two? At least he had Katara with him, the thought made him smile.

The fire lord made his way to breakfast surprised to see Katara already there.

"When we get back to the palace I'll write to Haru and Yagoda about getting an ambassador to the fire nation" She said before she ate a bite of oatmeal. Zuko nodded.

"Thank you. Hopefully we will have everyone here in a few weeks". He had barely eaten half his breakfast when the ship had finished docking and it was time to get to work.

I hope you're having a great day! My goal is to post once a week, if not more. I have no idea how long this story will be.