Zuko followed the path of damaged roots to where Katara was bathing, about ten minutes away. Stopping before he saw anything, he called out. "Katara? Everyone's wondering where you're at."

"Zuko? Oh, gods, hold on!" He heard rustling and slight splashing; it was probably Katara getting out of the water and putting something on. "Okay, at least I'm somewhat decent," she muttered. "You can come out now."

Zuko left the hiding spot and promptly wished he hadn't. Katara was only in her white undergarments, hair down. "I thought you said you were decent," he muttered, turning his head.

"Well, would you rather me have nothing on?"

"Point taken. But still, Katara, what if your brother had been with me?" Zuko asked.

Katara chuckled. "He'd have first killed you and yelled at me, then killed you again for being in my presence when I look like this," she said, motioning to her state of dress. "Besides, after traveling with you for almost a month, it's not like I mind too much."

"What?"

"Well, I got used to your presence and now it's like you were always traveling with us, not chasing us," Katara explained, shaking out her hair and brushing it with a comb Lakai had given her. "Besides, I've seen you without your shir-nevermind!"

Zuko cocked an eyebrow. "What were you about to say?" he asked. Katara blushed.

"Nothing!"

Zuko nodded, then whipped around to the side the lying Waterbender. "Tell me what you were to say or," here Zuko took Katara's chin, "I'll kiss you."

"When you were first injured, remember that I drugged? Well, I did it mainly so I could check for bodily wounds in the chest area without embarrassing you. I had to, well, y'know."

"Pretend I don't." Katara stuck her tongue out.

"I had to remove your shirt. You were fine except for a few bruises, so I healed those and quickly put your shirt back on."

"Uh-huh." Zuko leaned in closer to Katara's ear and whispered something to her. Katara blushed and swatted him.

"Zuko! Are you flirting with me?" she asked in disbelief. Zuko shrugged and let her go.

"You better hurry, or your brother might start getting ideas, if he hasn't already." Katara rolled her eyes and finished dressing. Unfortunately, her parka had gotten wet, so she had to deal without it.

"Ready." With that, the two headed back.

They weren't even two minutes away from the river when a chilly breeze caused Katara to shiver. Zuko sighed and wrapped part of his cloak (which he still had on) around her shivering shoulders. Katara hugged to her and nodded her thanks. Instinctively, she moved closer to Zuko, to the point where their arms were touching.

Right before they entered camp, Katara left the warmth of Zuko's cloak. "Sokka," she said simply when he gave her a look. He nodded and they entered camp.

"Took ya long enough. Anything happen I should know about?" Sokka asked accusingly.

"No, Sokka. Zuko came and got me, then we walked back," Katara assured, reaching for a spare blanket to use until her parka dried.

Toph and Aang motioned both her and Zuko over to where they were sitting. "Guess what Katara, guess what?" Aang said in an excited whisper.

"What?"

"Snoozles and Pokey kissed while you and Scarface were out by the forest," Toph said. Katara's jaw dropped.

"What?"

"It's true." Everyone turned to see Iroh sitting next to them. "Your brother and Ty Lee did kiss."

"On the lips," Aang emphasized. Toph turned to Katara.

"I believe I win our bet, Sugar Queen," she said.

"Bet?" Zuko and Aang looked at the two oddly. Katara sighed.

"I bet it would take at least four weeks for Sokka to flirt back with Ty Lee about the time we ran into Lakai. Toph bet it would take three weeks or less. So, what do I have to do?"

Toph pondered it. "Well, if Scarface won't mind, you have to share your sleeping bag with Zuko. And, at least until your parka is dry, his cloak. And you have to share a room at the Temple when we get there," Toph said with an evil look on her face.

Both Zuko and Katara paled slightly. "Sokka'll object!" the Waterbender pointed out.

"Uncle, little help here…"

"Don't worry! I'll tell Sokka Toph dared you two and if you don't she'll stick ya in quicksand or make you kiss or something," Ty Lee said cheerfully.

"And I'm not helping you out of this one, Zuko," Iroh added. "You went and got yourself dragged into this, not me."

"How did I go and get myself dragged into this?" demanded the younger former aristocrat.

"By flirting with Miss Katara, of course." Iroh said this as though it was the most obvious statement in the world. Zuko groaned and Katara blushed.

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Later that evening, after everyone else was asleep, Katara and Zuko were still awake. It wasn't as if sharing sleeping space was a new concept to them; they had shared the bedroll for almost a week now. But sharing a sleeping bag was completely different, at least to them.

Finally, Katara yawned and reached for her sleeping bag. "Dare or no dare, I'm tired and chilly. G'night." She crawled into her bag and closed her eyes.

Zuko, on the other hand, couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about Katara. It's not as if he didn't try to think of anything else; he just couldn't break his thoughts away from the Waterbender two years his junior. Her hair, her eyes, her face, her voice, everything. And from what he had seen today at the river…he shook his head. He may be a typical teenager, but he was not going to go there!

Sighing, Zuko stood and decided that lying down was the best way to fall asleep. So he did just what he was being forced to do by his uncle and the blind Earthbender, and slipped into the sleeping bag with Katara, careful not to wake her.

He noticed that Katara was curled up in a position that would leave her with a sore neck in the morning. Gently, Zuko straightened her out. "Thanks, Zuko," she muttered.

"You…you're awake?" Zuko asked, feeling the heat rush to his face.

"Hmmm-mmm. I was waiting for you, to see if you'd what your uncle told you to do," Katara explained.

"I almost always do. There are exceptions."

"Like what?"

"Playing the sungi horn at Music Night on the ship."

"Playing the what?"

"Sungi horn, okay? It's not one of my better accomplishments, so don't laugh." Katara had to bite her tongue to keep from giggling, but managed to do so. All of a sudden, she yawned. Zuko looked at her with concern. "You should get to sleep."

Katara nodded and shivered. Zuko sighed and wrapped his arms around the girl, warming her body with his own. "Thanks, Zuko," Katara murmured, dozing off in the former prince's arms.

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As promised, two chaps. Now, REVEIW! Both chapters, please!