Hello again! Sorry it's been a while. When I started writing this fan fiction I had no idea it would be this long.

Zuko and what was left of the crew were getting the airship ready to land. They had spotted the mainland of the fire nation about an hour ago. Katara had been up all night healing as many as she could, and she was still at it. When Zuko opened the door Katara looked exhausted but determined.

"Katara-"

"Don't you dare tell me to take a break" She cut him off, "I'm fine". Her sentence ended with a side eye. Zuko stepped closer to her. He sat down next to her as she continued to work.

"We are almost back, then they can go to the hospital. You've done a great job, you're amazing but-"

"Don't"

"Fine," Zuko stood up and walked to the other side of the room. "You're impossible!" She ignored him."Walk over to me". She scoffed. "Humor me Katara, do it". Reluctantly Katara stood and took a wobbly step before Zuko rushed over to her.

"See, you need rest," He said while helping her stand. Tears filled her tired eyes.

"I couldn't save everyone," she crumpled against him. "I wanted to Zuko but I couldn't," Her voice wavered and tears began to fall from her eyes. They were now sitting on the floor. Zuko hugged her close. He put a hand on the back of her head and rested his head on hers.

"I know Katara," He stroked her hair. They stayed like that for a minute and Zuko could feel this was more about The Day of Black Sun than what happened last night. He moved to look at Katara, "no one expects you to be able to save everyone," He searched her eyes.

"I'm supposed to be strong. I'm supposed to be a powerful waterbender, but I'm not strong enough," Katara looked away from Zuko.

"You are a very powerful waterbending master. I have seen you grow Katara, from the first time we met to you channeling the ocean from the sky last night. I've seen you speed up ships, bring me back from the brink of death, stop rain, I've seen you do so many incredible things. Powerful doesn't mean invincible. You're still human and right now you need rest. We'll be landing soon and I'll take you to our room until we do." He lifted her chin with one finger and gave her a soft kiss.

"Until we get back I need to keep working," She tried to leave Zuko's grip but even standing was clearly a struggle.

"You've taken care of so many today, let me take care of you now," He wasn't going to let her protest, he doubted she would have the energy to do it anyway. Katara seemed to realize that and as soon as she gave in her body gave up. Zuko had always admired Katara's will power and determination, it was something they had in common. He knew how detrimental both could be if taken to the extreme.

Katara woke up to the feeling of the airship landing. That has to be a good sign. She figured they wouldn't have been able to land if the palace had been taken over by Ozai supporters. Katara's body felt weak, like she had just been trampled by a platypus bear. Her head pounded too. Slowly she got herself to sit up and listened to the commotion outside her door. She caught bits and pieces of conversation. Toph was the easiest to hear.

"Irho! I've - woah, what happened here?" Things got quiet after that, then there were the heavy footsteps of Zuko running. Just then the door flew open and Aang rushed over to Katara,

"Thank the spirits! Are you ok?" He asked, hugging her. She instinctively hugged him back.

"I'm fine Aang, just tired," His big grey eyes were full of worry.

"Katara!" Sakka's voice got louder as he ran to the room. He appeared in the doorway with everyone else. "Are you ok?" He lifted each arm to inspect her. Katara gave her most reassuring smile.

"Yes, Sakka I'm fine," she was slightly annoyed with his usual overprotectiveness. He looked at her skeptically. "Really, I'll be fine once I get some sleep. How were things here?"

"Nothing we couldn't handle," Toph stepped in with a big smile, punching a fist into her hand. Aang nodded.

"Actually I found it a bit quiet," Aang started. "After you left, that night, there were about a dozen or so Ozai supporters that attacked but most of them were non benders and it didn't last very long,"

"Something about it didn't seem right," Haru added. San Fan peaked her head through the door.

"I've seen protests before in the city and they have more fight than the people who attacked," She stated.

"This doesn't make sense," Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why get me so far away and then not send everyone to take over the palace?" Katara tried to think but she was so tired and the pain in her head wouldn't let her think. "they attacked us too, last night but still it wasn't very many, though they did put up a pretty good fight. The only reason the attack worked is because someone in the crew was in on it. Still, I have to be missing something," Zuko began to pace.

"No offense, sparky but you look terrible. Maybe get some sleep and let us do the thinking," Katara was on board with Toph's plan.

"Katara?" San Fan was sitting next to her on the bed looking concerned.

"Yeah?"

"I asked if you're ok,"

"I am, I just need some sleep," Katara didn't like people being worried about her. She was the one who took care of everyone else, not the other way around. "Take care of the wounded, get them to the hospital."

"I'll help you too bed," Aang, Zuko, and Sakka said simultaneously. The three exchanged a looks.

"Oh uhh, you do it Zuko, I can go help heal," Aang was clearly uncomfortable, scratching his head was a tell. Katara could hear the hurt in his voice though, it pained her. Zuko clearly didn't know what to do.

"Like hell you will '' Sakka was jamming his pointer finger into Zuko's chest. Katara was grateful when Suki and San Fan interjected.

"We can take Katara to her room. Aang you need to help heal and Zuko you should check in with your advisors before you go get rest too." Before anyone could respond San Fan had one arm and Suki had the other to help Katara up and support her as she walked.

"What about me?" Sakka shouted at them.

"Go do something else," Suki shouted back down the hall.

"Let's get you some sleep," San Fan said as the three girls walked off the airship together.

"Thank you," Katara said. Things with Aang were still complicated ever since he "walked in" on Katara and Zuko. Spirits, why does he have a blind Earth bending teacher? Life would be easier if he couldn't see through walls. Clearly Sakka knew too. Everything from that point on became a blur.

Katara woke up in the middle of the night, she must have slept through the entire day. Suddenly it hit her, how close Zuko came to getting hurt again. She rolled over in the big bed to cuddle the Fire Lord.

"What's wrong?" He answered clearly, still fairly asleep.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," Katara felt bad and rolled back to her part of the bed when an arm wrapped around her. Zuko pulled her back against him.

"Did you have a bad dream?" He asked genuinely as he traced lines on her arm with his finger.

"No, I just realized how close you came to getting hurt last night," Katara's voice got quiet "and, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you anymore." She could feel her cheeks flush.

"How do you think I felt watching you fight from inside the airship? I was so helpless. There was nothing I could do to keep you safe," she felt something change, "I can't lose you, especially like that", there was so much anger and fear in his voice. She rolled over to face him, still in his arms. The moon shining through the open windows allowed for just enough light to see Zuko's face.

"You won't. We are both here. We are both safe," at least she hoped. "And we both need to go back to sleep." Zuko nodded. He kissed her on the head.

"I love you Katara of the southern water tribe." She smiled and snuggled as close to the warm fire bender despite the warm night,

"I love you too Fire Lord Zuko."

Please leave reviews! They help motivate me. This story is coming to an end, there will probably only be a few chapters left.