A/N HI! If any of you are wondering….yes Katara did cut off her hair, but you know how it like comes down to the middle of her back? It's like short enough t rest on her shoulder blades. Get it? Good. I wasn't going to make her bald or anything….just….I don't know…..btw I copied that from Naruto if anyone was wondering…..heheheh

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar!

"Aang, do you think Katara got captured by fire nation troops?" Sokka asked his bald companion.

"Sokka! How can you say that! She didn't for one, she's wanted like us, and if the fire nation caught her, the news would have traveled to us already!" Aang shouted.

"Jeez, pipe down Twinkle-toes….relax, your little girlfriend isn't gone or anything." Toph said easily, but inside she wondered if Aang really did like the water tribe girl he described.

"Aang, I think we all just need some rest, we'll search for her again in the morning."

"Fine, Sokka."

------------------------

Zuko carried back Katara to the make shift camp he made, his uncle was sleeping in the far right of the camp. Apparently, he drank too much tea. He sighed and laid Katara on the blanket.

She tired herself out today, crying out her eyes made her fall asleep. He smiled and tied their steed to the tree. Iroh jolted up and relaxed when he saw his nephew tying down the horse. "Zuko, I see you brought someone to our camp, what's her name?"

"Katara, uncle, remember?"

"Ah, right, one of the Avatar's companions?"

"Yes…."

Zuko sat down next to his uncle and sighed. "She's very pretty isn't she Zuko?"

"Uncle….."

"Well, nephew you have to admit."

"Fine…."

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Early next morning, Katara woke up, only to see that she was in a campsite.

Zuko must've brought me here….

She noticed a middle-aged man sleeping against and tree trunk and Zuko nowhere to be seen. Katara got up and searched around the woods for him. Then, she stumbled upon him firebending, his movements graceful, looking so at home with his skills. She sighed and leaned against a tree, watching him.

Could Aunt Wu be right? About me marrying a powerful bender?

"Katara?"

That shook her out of her thoughts and noticed Zuko stopped and was looking at her.

"Oh good morning Zuko….I was just…."

"Watching be firebend?"

"Urm, yes…." Katara said guiltily.

Zuko shook his head and said, "Come on, we need to go back to camp…"

"But, I want to stay out here more."

"No we aren't now follow what I say or I'll have to force you to camp."

"Make me!"

"Fine!" Zuko picked her up bridal-style easily and carried her to camp.

"Hey! Not fair!" Katara kicked and squirmed in his grasp.

When they got to camp, Zuko starting to lose balance since Katara was moving around so much.

"Stop moving around!"

"Well, put me down first!"

"I'm gonna…..FALL!"

Zuko tripped over a chunk of rock and fell. The two fell on top of each other, Zuko on top of her. The two blushed.

"A little bit too early for that isn't Prince Zuko?"

Iroh grinned from his seat and got up. Zuko and Katara blushed like mad and got up themselves. "Uncle, weren't…..it wasn't what you think…..I…..I….fell…..and….and…." Zuko was mumbling and stuttering like a confused boy.

Iroh smiled wider and mumbled something like 'grandchildren'.

--------------------------

On their way, Katara and Zuko didn't say a word to each other, because of this morning's run ins.

"So, where are we going?" Katara spoke up, breaking the silence within the group. "Ba Sing Se, to a refugee camp."

"What? A refugee camp?"

"Yes."

"But, I don't want to stay in one place for the whole time! I want to explore the world! I don't want to be cooped up in some town until the war ends!" Katara shouted toward the two men.

"If you want to leave go ahead, but we are still going to Ba Sing Se." Zuko said.

"You really want me….to….to….leave?" Katara stuttered.

"If you want to fine…..I don't care."

"Zuko!" Iroh scolded.

"Uncle, it's her choice, I don't care if she's gone or not!"

"You….you….really don't care?" Katara said, tightening her fists and tears about to spill out.

I'm crying too much…..I need to stop crying….

She quickly wiped her eyes.

"Zuko! How can you say that?" Iroh scolded again.

"Uncle, please the last thing I need is you butting into our conversation."

While the two were shouting at each other, Katara slipped away into the forest, crying her eyes out.

I can't….believe he'd lie to me like that! About being by my side forever!

Told you…didn't you learn from Jet and the other boys that you met from your journey? They'll always break your heart.

Shut up….it's not like you're making things better!

Whatever your problem.

She wiped her nose and slumped down at the base of a tree.

I thought he cared….

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"Zuko, you were so busy arguing with me, you didn't even notice her gone!"

"What?"

That was indeed true, Katara was gone from them. Zuko jumped off the horse and gave the reins to his uncle, "I…I has to go find her…..maybe apologize…." He whispered as he ran off.

"Good job Zuko, I know you aren't anything like your father….." Iroh grinned.

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"Katara! Are you here! Answer me please!" Zuko called out to the forest trees. Still no answer.

Fearing for the worst, he ran faster, in hope of finding her before something else finds her first.

"Katara!" That's when he heard crying.

That has to be Katara!

Wait, you're so pathetic! You are going after some waterbender that cries every time you mention a hint of her mother, that necklace, and if you force her to go away!

She's sad about something, I'm going to find out…

Your loss….AGAIN!

Zuko looked behind a tree and saw her, weeping into her hands and her cold tears staining her dress or falling onto the mossy ground below her. He sighed and sat next to her.

"What do you want? If you want to hurt me again, I suggest you leave." Katara whispered out that sentence.

"I never meant to say any of those things…I….I was just being a jerk…..I really, honestly, never meant to say those things to you…."

Katara looked up and stared at his golden eyes.

"I don't believe you…" She turned her back to him, wiping her eyes quickly. "Listen to me….please?" He turned her around, so that she was eye-to-eye with him.

"Fine…I'm listening…"

"I guess, that I was just upset that you wanted to go separate ways with us. We really need to get my uncle to the refugee center in Ba Sing Se, so I was upset that you wanted to go separate ways…"

Katara stayed silent.

"I'm…..I'm…sorry…." He whispered, his eyes begging for forgiveness.

She embraced him tightly.

"So, is that a yes?"

Laughing, she said, "Of course…"

That's when Zuko had to urge to kiss her. He did already, but that's when she was unconscious from that poison. Katara sensed him thinking that, because she started blushing like crazy.

He slowly caressed her face, stopping below her chin, bringing her closer to him. Katara's eyes fluttered down, feeling his warm, ragged breath on her lips.

It's heart break for you again, if you keep this up…

She gasped and pull away. "I….I'm sorry Zuko….I…..I can't go….through with this….I…I'm sorry…." With that she quickly stood up and ran off. Only to have Zuko catch up to her and turn her around to him. "What's the matter?"

"I…can't live through heart break again….every time I get close to a person, they disappear." A tear slid down her cheek.

Zuko wiped away the tear and moved in again, this time, Katara didn't move away. He kissed her gently, but passionately. "I promise that I won't leave you…."

Katara bit her lip and wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her head in his shoulder and sighed.

"I promise…."

A/N WOW! That's the longest chapter I've written! Anyways, R&R!