"It's not what it looks like!" Katara blurted, the words tumbling out of her mouth in rush. She flushed with guilt. He wasn't supposed to find out like this!

Zuko ran his hands over his face, internally berating himself for being so careless. He remembered how he had felt when he thought Katara wanted someone else—he braced himself for an attack. He doubted Aang would actually try to kill him (as he himself had so shamefully done) but he wouldn't be surprised by a well-placed blast of air, either.

Aang clenched his hand at his side. "I'm not stupid, Katara! Stop treating me like a little kid! You think I don't know what I just saw?"

Zuko said, "We can explain, Aang—"

"There's nothing to explain. It's pretty obvious what's going on."

"Aang, I'm sorry," Katara said miserably.

She took a step toward him, but he backed away.

"Argh! You two… you… how long?"

Katara dropped her eyes to the ground. "Uhh. Well..." She hesitated, heartbeat in her throat. "Since we were on the road to Ba Sing Se together… sort of? It's kind of… complicated."

"That long! Holy shit Katara! So, then, when we talked at the play… and when I told you I lovedyou in the caves… you were already with him?! Him! He was our enemy!"

"He's not now," she said unsteadily, thrown off-balance by Aang's uncharacteristic anger.

"But he was! And you… you were with him when he was! He tried to kill me." Aang was shaking with emotion and for the first time, Katara was glad he couldn't enter the Avatar state.

"She didn't know I was going to do that," Zuko said quietly, feeling a rush of shame all over again.

"Oh, I guess that makes it better then!" Aang spat. He took a deep, steadying breath. "Why didn't you just tell me?! Spirits, I must have seemed like such an idiot!"

"It wasn't that straightforward!" Katara didn't want to get into the details right now.

"And we thought it wouldn't be a good idea to tell you before you faced my father," Zuko added. He was amazed at Aang's relative composure, all things considered. Even having caught them red-handed, the airbender was still willing to talk.

Katara said, "We didn't want it to distract you. I didn't want you to get hurt! I'm so sorry, Aang. I never wanted you to find out like this."

Aang looked at her with wide, injured eyes. "You knew I loved you, and you just let me go on hoping, when there was no chance?"

"Oh, Aang." Katara felt the prickle of tears. This time when she went toward him, he stayed put. She wrapped her arms around him, but he was stiff and unmoving. "You already carry so much on your shoulders. I didn't want to add to it. We were going to tell you, we were."

Aang didn't return her embrace, but he didn't draw away, either. Zuko hovered awkwardly behind them, wondering what he should do. He didn't want to make the situation worse.

"Aang, say something, please," she pleaded, releasing him from the one-sided hug and holding him by his shoulders.

"What do you want me to say?! That I feel like my heart is breaking? That it hurts like hell to find out two of my friends have been lying to me? That you have been lying to me. What, exactly, is it that you want me to say right now? Damn it, Katara, I wish you'd just told me instead of going around behind my back!"

Katara stumbled back a step, feeling struck by his words. She felt awful.

Zuko approached Aang tentatively, his shoulders slumped with guilt. "I'm sorry, Aang. It's my fault too."

Aang glared at him, but before the airbender could respond, Toph came around the corner with a watermelon juice in her hand.

"Hey, you dropped your juice, Twinkle-Toes."

All three turned at the sound of her voice. Toph stopped in her tracks, taking in the scene before her. Their heart rates were through the roof, and she could feel by their body language that something major was going on.

And she was pretty sure she knew exactly what that was.

Toph presented her watermelon to Aang, stammering, "Uhh… you know what? It's okay, though. You can have mine!"

"I don't want it," Aang said, starting to walk away.

"Aang, please!" Katara followed him.

"Sooooo, the water prune dumplings did NOT turn out. Like. At all," came Sokka's voice as he and Suki rounded the corner.

"Yeah—we're going to need to figure out something else for lunch," Suki laughed.

"Whoa! What's with all the long faces?" Sokka tilted his head when he saw them. Aang wouldn't meet anyone's eye, and had a bleak, hurt look on his face. "Were you that excited for my water prune dumplings? See, Suki?! I'll just have to try making them again."

"This isn't about your stupid dumplings, Sokka!" Katara snapped.

"Well what's going on then?" Sokka replied.

Katara shot Aang a worried glance.

Suddenly, Aang didn't want to be around anyone. He felt embarrassed and foolish; he couldn't bear to have their eyes bore into him, watching his reactions with concerned looks on their faces. He didn't want their empty condolences or their pity. And, he was mad.

Striding away, he called over his shoulder, "Some of us are just finding out that Katara's been making out with Zuko for the past month!"

"Wait!" Katara called after him.

"Leave me alone! Everyone!" With that he air-bent himself away, seeking solitude somewhere beyond their reach.

"Wait, WHAT?!" Sokka said, his voice raising an octave. He turned to Katara and Zuko, his eyes practically bugging out of his head.

"This is completely new information to me!" Toph said. Suki gave her a suspicious glance.

Sokka pointed at Katara, then Zuko, "You?! And… and him?!"

Zuko looked like a deer in headlights.

Katara put her hands on her hips, daring Sokka to confront her. "Yes, that's right, Sokka! Me and Zuko!"

"My sister and the… the prince of the Fire Nation?!"

"Former prince," said Zuko.

"The. Fire. Prince." Sokka repeated, ignoring Zuko. Sokka looked like he might have a heart attack. "Flying hog monkeys!"

"I can see it," Suki mused, giving Katara an encouraging smile.

Sokka continued, "Whaaa? Why? How? You couldn't stand him when he first got here, Katara!"

Katara stomped her foot. "Feelings can change, Sokka! And where do you get off being all high and mighty? You and Suki kiss in front of me all the time and I never got all up in arms about it!"

"That's different!" Sokka retorted.

"No it's not!"

"Suki isn't the fire prince!"

Toph said, "He's got you there." She took a noisy sip of her watermelon juice.

"Former fire prince," Zuko repeated.

"My own sister! What would Gran-Gran say? What will Dad say?! Or is this just some fling that you were hoping no one would find out about?"

"It is not! And I don't care what anyone says! They can say whatever they want and so can you, but Zuko and I are together so you're just going to have to deal with it!"

In spite of everything that was happening, Zuko felt a small rush of happiness at Katara's words.

"And you!" Sokka rounded on Zuko, standing inches away from him.

"I thought you liked me now, Sokka." Zuko said, backing up a step.

"Well, I do. But don't change the subject! Listen here, fire prince or not, if you—"

"If you're going to tell me that you'll kill me if I hurt her—"

"No, I was going to say that she'll kill you if you hurt her."

"I know," Zuko said. "I won't."

"Toph, is he lying?" Sokka arched his eyebrow skeptically.

"Nope."

Sokka narrowed his eyes.

"Sokka," Zuko said seriously. "Do you not want Katara to be with me?"

"Not that that would stop us!" huffed Katara.

Suki put a hand on Sokka's arm, urging him to be reasonable. "Sokka."

Throwing up his hands, Sokka said, "Ennnngh. No, you're all right, Zuko. But why'd you have to be the fire prince?"

"Will you shut up about the fire prince thing?!" Katara was getting exasperated.

"I absolutely will not. Oh!" Sokka looked like a lightbulb just went off in his head. "Wait! If I'm the Fire Lord's girlfriend's brother, do I get any honorary titles? Special privileges? Do I get my own room at the fire palace?!"

"He's not the Fire Lord, Sokka!" Katara said. She wondered if it would be overkill to just knock him unconscious.

"So, you're okay with it?" Zuko asked. "Your friendship is important to me."

Sokka shrugged. "I guess it's better than Katara kissing old King Bumi. Or one of those swamp hillbillies."

"Really? That's who you're going to compare me to?!" Zuko crossed his arms and scowled. As tense as Katara was, she couldn't help but giggle at his grumpy expression.

"I said you were better!" Sokka defended himself.

"But I'm on the same scale?" Zuko's frown deepened.

"Guys, I think you are forgetting the most important thing here," interrupted Toph.

"More important than having my own room—no, my own WING—at the fire palace?!"

"Aang is upset." Toph stated.

"Oh. Right." Sokka instantly became subdued.

O – O – O – O – O – O

No one saw Aang the rest of the day, or the day after. The next evening, long after the sun had set, Katara finally found him, sitting by himself on the dock gazing pensively out across the water.

When she sat down next to him, he didn't even look at her.

"Hey Aang," she said quietly.

"Hey."

"How are you?"

"Okay."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

Katara nodded. "Okay, we don't have to. Can I stay?"

"I won't stop you."

Katara swung her legs slowly, her feet skimming the cool water as they sat in awkward silence in the darkness. She tried to think of something she could say but all the words that came to mind seemed horribly inadequate. And she didn't want him to feel like she was patronizing him again.

After a time, Aang broke the silence himself. "I'm just sad, Katara. I'll be fine."

"Well, it matters to me if you're sad, Aang."

"Thanks."

The silence stretched on before Aang spoke up again.

"You and Zuko. You guys are two of my closest friends. My bending teachers. I... I want to be happy for you, I do. I guess I just need some time."

"Take all the time you want. No one expects you to just be fine about it in a day."

"Right."

Katara put a hand on Aang's arm, squeezing it. "I still care about you so much, I hope you know that."

"Yeah. But it's not the same."

"No, it's not. I'm sorry."

Aang stared forward for another moment before turning to face her and covering her hand with his own.

"You don't have to keep apologizing. You shouldn't have to apologize for how you feel. I've been thinking a lot since yesterday. At first I was really angry. It didn't seem right that some other guy—a guy who used to be our enemy, especially—could just swoop in and take you away from me. Ever since you found me in the iceberg, I thought you were going to be my forever girl. And honestly, I still don't understand why… how you could pick him and not me. But I've been meditating, you know, to help me recenter myself. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was just projecting my own feelings onto you, without really considering how you that wasn't really fair of me." Aang let out a shaky breath. "I just wish you had told me sooner. Then I could have started moving on sooner. I could have handled it, Katara."

"Yeah. I see that now. Can I apologize for that, at least?"

The ghost of a smile crossed Aang's lips. "Yeah. You can apologize for that."

"Aang, I'm really sorry I didn't tell you sooner. That was shitty of me."

"You're forgiven, Katara. Or, at least, you will be. Maybe not right this instant."

Katara looked at him with a small sad smile. "You know, you really are an amazing person, Aang. And it has nothing to do with being the Avatar."

"Thanks, Katara. I think… I think I want to be alone for a bit longer, now."

~~~S3 E18: Sozin's Comet – Part 1 to S3 E19: Sozin's Comet – Part 2~~~

Soon after, events began to spiral quickly out of control.

When Zuko found out that Aang wasn't intending to face the Fire Lord before the comet, he told them about his father's ruthless plan to use the comet's power—which would give the firebenders the strength and power of a hundred suns—to rain fire and destruction upon the Earth Kingdom, permanently obliterating it and all its people.

Aang, anxious about the timing and distraught because killing the Fire Lord would go against his morals, simply disappeared one night not long after. Although they looked everywhere, even going to the Earth Kingdom to enlist the bounty hunter June and her shirshu, he was nowhere to be found.

When it was clear they would not be able to find Aang, Zuko decided they should seek out Iroh instead. Iroh always had good advice. Iroh always knew what to do. On top of that, Iroh was an incredibly powerful firebender—possibly the only person other than Aang who had a chance of defeating the Fire Lord.

But Zuko hadn't seen his uncle since Iroh was in the cell in the Fire Nation. He had never gotten a chance to apologize for betraying him. And if Katara's reaction was anything to go by, Iroh would not be happy to see him. The thought filled him with anguish. Iroh was the one person who had always been there for him, always believed in him. And he'd repaid that devotion with treachery.

O – O – O – O – O – O

It was night when they arrived at the White Lotus camp in the Earth Kingdom, where June's shirshu had led them in their search for Iroh.

Zuko now sat outside his uncle's tent, afraid to go inside, dreading what Iroh would say. How would he react to seeing the nephew who—after everything he had done for Zuko—had gotten him thrown into a Fire Nation dungeon to rot? Who had turned on him at the critical moment.

Katara came up behind Zuko. "Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay," he grimaced. "My uncle hates me, I know it. He loved me and supported me in every way he could. And I still turned against him. Just like… just like I did to you. How can I even face him?"

Katara settled herself on the ground next to him and took both of his hands in hers. "Zuko, you're sorry for that you did, right?"

"More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life. Along with hurting you." He squeezed her hands tightly.

"I forgave you, didn't I? He'll forgive you too. He will." She shuffled closer and put her arms around him. Zuko leaned his forehead into her shoulder.

"You didn't want to forgive me, though."

"That's not true. I missed you and I still loved you and I was angry with you. But mostly, I didn't want to get hurt again."

"My uncle will be angry with me too."

"Maybe. But if he cares about you as much as I know he does, then he still loves you and wants to see you again, too. He'll be so proud once he finds out everything you've been doing. I know he will."

Zuko nodded and closed his eyes as Katara hugged him and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. Then he stood, pausing before the tent's opening and taking a deep breath to steel himself for what was to come.

Katara watched him duck his head and enter the tent, taking a steadying breath herself. Whatever happened, she would be here for Zuko, lending him whatever support he needed. Just as he had done for her when she needed closure about her mother.

The tent was dark. As he entered, Zuko announced himself tentatively, "Uncle…"

Snooooooooooore. SNORE. Snoooooore.

A fond smile crossed Zuko's lips at Iroh's loud snoring. It reminded him of all the time they'd spent traveling together. Not wanting to wake him, Zuko sat on the mat by the entrance and waited. He closed his eyes and thought of what he was going to say when Iroh woke up.

O – O – O – O – O – O

The sun was beginning to crest the horizon, its golden rays filtering through the sky, when Iroh awoke. Like any good firebender, he was a morning person. His back still to Zuko, he stretched and released a wide yawn.

Zuko's heart raced. Grimacing, he took the plunge. "Uncle. I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me."

Iroh froze but did not turn to look at him. Zuko hung his head in shame. Tears filled his eyes, then spilled down his cheeks.

His voice grew hoarse as he pushed onward, "But I want you to know, I am so, so sorry Uncle. I am so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I can ever make it up to you, but I—"

Before he knew what was happening, Iroh had turned and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. Tears streamed down Iroh's face.

"How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious with me."

"I was never angry with you. I was sad because I was afraid you'd lost your way."

"I did lose my way."

"But you found it again." Iroh pulled away to look at Zuko, his face brimming with pride and love. "And you did it by yourself. And I am so happy you found your way here."

Iroh embraced Zuko again and Zuko felt all his fears drain away. A warm glow, full of acceptance, love, and joy, permeated his soul. This was what unconditional love felt like.

"It wasn't that hard, Uncle. You have a pretty strong scent."

O – O – O – O – O – O

Katara was awake uncharacteristically early in the morning. Zuko hadn't returned to their tent all night and she'd woken up several times missing his warmth. She wondered whether he'd been able to reconcile with Iroh yet. Had they been awake all night hashing things out?

As soon as she was up—which, although early for her, wasn't early by firebender standards—she made her way to Iroh's tent. She found Zuko and Iroh sitting in front companionably, eating breakfast and soaking in the early morning sun.

Her face broke into a huge grin. Seeing her coming toward them, Zuko grinned back.

"Iroh!" she exclaimed as she approached.

"Ah, Katara! It is good to see you again, my dear," Iroh said, standing to greet her.

"You too!" She went to put her hand on his shoulder, but Iroh pulled her into a hug.

"My nephew tells me some very interesting stories about his adventures, since I saw him last."

"He's been a great help to us all," Katara beamed.

Iroh smiled proudly, before his face took on a more serious expression. "He is extremely fortunate that you forgave him."

"Uncle…" Zuko said.

Iroh went on, "You must care about him a great deal."

"I do. I love him."

"That is good. Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit. It makes me happy that you have found joy in each other. And you will need each other, in the days to come. I am pleased that my nephew has you by his side, Katara."

Zuko wanted to hide his face. "Uncle, stop talking about me like I'm not right here!"

"I won't leave his side," Katara assured Iroh.

"When I see you together, I can tell that he would move mountains for you. You may already know this," Iroh leaned in conspiratorially, his eyes sparkling with knowing amusement, "but my nephew can be, ah, very determined, when something really matters to him. There is no obstacle he would not overcome for you, my dear."

"Enough of this!" Zuko, his face bright red, marched off in an embarrassed huff.

Katara fell apart into pleased laughter at Zuko's exit. When she regained her ability to speak, she said, "Don't worry, Iroh, I know what I have. I am very grateful for it."

Iroh smiled. "You may call me 'Uncle' from now on, if you would like."

Now it was Katara's turn to blush. "Oh. Well. We're not—um. Okay… Uncle."

O – O – O – O – O – O

Later that day, the gang sat around a small cooking pot, sharing lunch with Iroh and discussing their plans.

Zuko was speaking, "Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord."

"You mean the Fire Lord," Toph said.

"That's what I just said."

"Hmmm," contemplated Iroh.

Zuko continued, "We need you to come with us!"

"No, Zuko. It won't turn out well," Iroh said resolutely.

Katara felt a twinge of alarm. She had been counting on Iroh to come help them when they went to the Fire Nation.

Zuko pressed on, "You can beat him. And we'll be there to help."

Iroh said, "Even if I did defeat Ozai—and I don't know that I could—it would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence. A brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."

"And then. Then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?" Zuko beseeched.

Katara watched Iroh's face carefully. She and Zuko had discussed at length that it made the most sense for Iroh to take over the Fire Throne. After all, it should have been his all those years ago. And he was kind and wise—he would make a good Fire Lord. She didn't like what she saw in Iroh's expression now.

"No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart. And unquestionable honor." Iroh held Zuko's gaze firmly. "It has to be you, Prince Zuko."

Zuko's eyes went wide in shock.

Katara glanced at Zuko in a panic, her heart suddenly sinking. Zuko, the next Fire Lord? Of course, he would be an amazing Fire Lord, just as Iroh said. But she had been so sure that Iroh would accept the duty and set everything right himself.

And if Zuko is Fire Lord, where does that leave me…?

"'Unquestionable honor?'" Zuko repeated sadly. "But I've made so many mistakes."

"Yes. You have. You struggled, you suffered. But you have always followed your own path. You restored your own honor, and only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation."

Katara felt like grabbing Iroh and shaking him, begging him not to make Zuko be the Fire Lord. Imploring him to take the mantle himself instead. But she knew she couldn't do that, for all that she was afraid of what it might mean for her and Zuko's love.

Zuko closed his eyes for a moment, opening them with determination set on his face. "I'll try, Uncle."

Katara felt like a vice was closing in around her heart.

Toph asked, "Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?"

"Sozin's comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord," Iroh said. "When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it backfrom the Fire Nation, so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."

Suki said, "That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus."

"Yes." Iroh paused. "Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there waiting for you."

"I can handle Azula."

"Not alone. You'll need help. I believe there is someone here who promised to stay by your side?" Iroh sipped his tea significantly.

Katara drew herself up. Now was not the time for anxieties or worrying about what the far future would hold. She would have to deal with the realities of Zuko being the Fire Lord whenhe was the Fire Lord. The first step was making sure that happened. And that would require a sharp focus on the task at hand.

Zuko turned to Katara, "Katara. How would you like to help me put Azula in her place?"

She smiled wolfishly. "It would be my pleasure."

From across the circle, Sokka asked, "What about us? What's our destiny today?"

"What do you think it is?" prompted Iroh.

"I think that, even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet."

Toph added, "And that means, when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us."

Iroh smiled and inclined his head.

The plans were in motion. There was no turning back now.

A.N.:Only one chapter left! Excuse me while I bawl over here.

BUT, I am thinking that maybe I'll write an epilogue. It's not written yet, so it probably won't come out 4 days after Chapter 24, but it's something to look forward to :) .

Anyway - what did you guys think of Aang and Sokka's reactions? I had fun writing them!

Also just a huge thanks to everyone who has favorited this story and/or left a review. I appreciate it so very much and it honestly makes my day.