Author's Note: Thank to everyone who has favorited and followed this story and thanks to LovetoRead613 for commenting on day 1: first kiss I'm glad you enjoyed it.

This installment can be seen as a continuation of day 1 and day 2. I apologize for this one being a bit shorter.

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Katara and the other watertribesmen, as well as Toph, arrived in the Fire Nation yesterday, a few days before the anniversary of the end of the war. Aang is expected to get here hopefully sometime tomorrow. Zuko cannot help but think how great it will be to have the group back together.

Even without Aang here breakfast this morning was crazy. In a good way. So much laughter and conversation had filled Zuko's dining hall. As friends caught up and told stories about their past adventures and those that had happened since the wars end. Toph was loud and sarcastic as usual and Sokka was cracking jokes through mouthfuls of food.

Not having time alone to talk Zuko invited Katara to afternoon tea. Not that he was doing much talking. Or listening for that matter.

Agni she looks beautiful in red. Seamstress Min is definitely getting a raise.

Katara's high collared flowing gown was a deep, rich red. When it hit the light at the right angle Zuko could make out delicate images of fire outlined in gold thread sewn to the dress in a way where they almost looked like golden waves. Fitting for a woman of the Water Tribes. Katara's hair was styled in the familiar half up do she wore on Ember Island so long ago. The only blue on her was from her mother's necklace around her slender neck and her ocean eyes. His favorite part though was how the slit up the right side of the dress had risen and slightly parted when she sat down. While standing the slit in the dress came to just below her knee, but when she sat it rose to mid-thigh. And it was a nice thigh.

Zuko somehow managed to focus back onto what she was saying.

"The palace seems so much brighter than I remember it."

"Oh, um. I had some of the tapestries and curtains replaced. The palace hasn't been renovated in a long time and I felt that with this new era a change seemed necessary. I even requested the whole outside of the palace to be repainted."

"Well it looks nice. Less depressing," she said with a smile.

"The palace wasn't depressing."

"It was not very welcoming; you have to agree with that."

"That's probably because last time you were here my father was the Phoenix King and my sister was about to become Fire Lord," Zuko said with a frown.

She laughed, "That might have had something to do with it."

Katara looked into his eyes breathing in deep. "I haven't had the chance to say it yet, but it's really nice to see you Zuko."

"You too. I mean it's nice to see you as well."

Katara looked down to some point on his chest, blushed and quickly looked away.

"Are you excited for the party?" Katara asked when she looked back at him.

"Excited as I can be for a bunch of strangers to be roaming my halls."

Katara rolled her eyes. "Well I'm looking forward to it. I've never been to such a fancy party before. Except for this one time when Toph and I…"

Zuko zoned out again. Not unexpected really. No ordinary man would be able to focus on a what Katara was saying when she looked like that.

Watching Katara's lips move and seeing them curl into a small smile as she spoke Zuko cannot help but recall what happened between them after Sozin's Comet. Does she not remember that kiss they shared a year ago? Sure, it did not end well but the kiss was amazing. He wants to kiss her again. What would she do if he leaned over the table and kissed her now?

Katara's arm lifted from her lap to rest on the table. Chin in the palm of her hand and eyebrows raised.

Oh Agni, she asked him a question. Quick Zuko say something.

"Appa is a really good cuddler."

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Author's Note: To be continued in day 4.