A/N: Hey, first of all thank you for all the super kind reviews I can't tell you thankful I am and how happy they make me, honestly and truly! But anyway this chapter was kinda a bitch to write but it's pretty long so hopefully that makes up for it? Maybe? Well I hope it's somewhat good!

Anyway let me know what you think, I'd love some feedback!

"So it's true then? You really are pregnant?"

Katara nodded softly, staring into her boots. She couldn't bare to look into Aang's eyes, for she already knew what storms were brewing within them. She'd already caused him so much pain, and in return, it pained herself.

"But...you didn't cheat on me?"

"No, she didn't."

"I'm talking to Katara."

Aang was glaring at the firebender behind her. She could feel the angry twisted heat of the airbender, could see his fists balling up and shaking, his lips stretched into a scowl. It was so….not Aang.

The stiffening fury of Zuko, however, was normal. But in this situation, it wasn't right. She needed to talk to Aang, but not with Zuko, it would never work with him looming behind her.

"You can leave, Zuko."

"Katara, I…"

"Please."

He went silent for a moment, but eventually he strided past the girl and the Avatar, and left the room. He never looked back.

She sighed. Maybe it was a mistake, now that she had to face Aang alone, along with all the hurt and sorrow that brewed within the Avatar's chest. The sorrow that she caused. Would she ever forgive herself?

She shook her head, gingerly settling herself onto the edge of the bed. This had to be done, for Zuko and for their unborn child. And Aang…?

"So after the battle, huh?"

Katara nodded, sighing heavily as she fiddled with the end of her tunic. After the battle, both of them were lost in their passion and their lust and their disbelief and-

His hands so hot on me, scratching down my back, groping at my chest…

No. No, not now.

"It was a mistake, Aang. I can never tell you how sorry I am that I've ruined what we had….I don't expect you to forgive me anytime-"

"Of course I'll forgive you."

Katara looked up, eyes gleaming hopefully into the airbender before her. But his face was stoic, his eyes foggy, his lips pinched into a flat line. Oh.

"But not right now. Right now you owe me the truth."

"I know, Aang."

"Do you love me?"

Katara froze. She knew this question would be raised, but she'd prayed with her entire being that she wouldn't have to answer it. What was she supposed to tell him? The boy who'd loved her from the minute he saw her, the boy who'd do anything for her, who'd put his own life on the line in order to save hers….

Body white with electricity, convulsing on the ground as Azula cackled in front of them. But I had no time to stand there awestruck at his sacrifice. If he was….I couldn't let his actions die in vain. But he wasn't. He was Zuko. He wasn't that easy to get rid of.

I hoped. I couldn't bear the thought of losing him. My once enemy, now…

"Katara?"

She blinked, cursing herself for getting lost in such thoughts. It always brought her so much pain, a crippling chill running down her spine. Yes, Aang would do anything to protect her. But Zuko….

"Of course I love you, Aang. You know that."

"And you know that I'm talking about a different kind of love."

Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she rose from the bed and began to pace around the room. What was she supposed to tell him? She couldn't just break his heart like this, after all he'd done for her. If it wasn't for him, she'd probably be stewing sea prunes back at the South Pole, her waterbending far from being mastered. Or, y'know. Dead.

No. She knew this was a lose lose situation. Someone was going to get hurt.

"...I guess I don't love you like you love me, Aang."

Silence.

Two, three.

"Are you in love with him?"

She froze. In love with….him? It was…sex didn't equate to love. But he was Zuko. He was Zuko.

"I don't know Aang, I'm just…."

"Confused. You're confused. I know."

She turned to him, her once sorrowful expression now a fierce glare. She was trying so hard to make this as easy for both of them as she could, but now he was being sarcastic about the whole issue? Sure, she probably deserved it, but….

"Yes, Aang. I'm confused. I'm sorry if that's such a dilemma. Look, I know what I did was probably wrong, but we weren't together at the time….and it only happened once. I don't know what else you want from me!"

"Leave him. Give him the baby and leave."

Her jaw slacked as her eyes glazed over his still stoic face. it was so unnatural. This was so unnatural. It made her insides curl and throb.

"You can't be serious, Aang."

"I know! But I'm in love with you, Katara! Can't you understand? I'm sorry I'm not thinking rationally but I've been in love with you since the day I met you, and now you're leaving me because of some mishap that happened one time?"

"I'm pregnant, Aang, it's not like-"

"Do you love him or not?"

Katara blinked.

Silence.

Two, three.

When Katar remained silent, Aang lifted himself off of the bed and exited the room. And then, she was alone with the tears that streamed down her cheeks.

Zuko knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, he did. But he wasn't exactly the most moral person around. So he listened, keeping his breathing low as he leaned against the thick wooden door, glaring at any servant who dared glance at him as they walked past.

Are you in love with him?

At this, Zuko choked on his own spit. No, she wasn't….was she? She wasn't speaking. Was she figuring out how to say it, how to tell him no? But why would she need to…

I don't know Aang, I'm just confused….

The Fire Lord stiffened at her words, leaning away from the door. She hadn't said know. She hadn't said no.

But was he in love with her?

He decided that it wasn't the time to battle with his feelings and his emotions and his Agni she's so beautiful and kind and thoughtful and-

No. Not now. Not the time.

Digging his heel into the floor beneath him, Zuko turned and began hunting for the Water Tribe warrior. He had some business to attend to with him as well.

He was on his way to the Hawkery, when he found Sokka sauntering down the hall towards him. When he caught sight of the Fire Lord, however, the warrior froze and began to rush back from where he came. But Zuko, even in his thick robes, was still faster than the other man.

"What do you want, jerkbender?" The words were bitter as the climbed through the holes in Sokka's teeth. A bit dramatic if Zuko said so himself, but it was Sokka.

"Why did you send that hawk to Chief Hakoda?"

"Because my dad would probably love to know that his grandchild is the next Fire Lord!"

Zuko stared into the man's eyes. Even when they were crinkled with anger, they were so much like his sister's. His sister. Oh Agni, his sister. Who would now have to deal with a raging father because of the warrior's ignorant actions.

Before he could process the fiery movement of his limbs, Zuko found himself poised over Sokka, gripping the man's wrists as he pinned him against the wall. His eyes coursed with the fire that was brewing within him. But he clearly wasn't the only one with such feelings.

"What the fuck are you-"

"Do you realize what you've done! Did the idea that perhaps Katara wanted to be the one to tell her father ever penetrate through your thick skull? You have no idea what she's going through right now, and-"

"And you do? I'm her brother!" Zuko could feel Sokka's arms shaking under his grip, but he didn't let go. The rational part of him was begging him to do so, however, but Zuko never really paid any mind to his "rational" side.

"Yes. I do."

Sokka only narrowed his eyes, his breath growing heavy. If he was a firebender, he'd be spewing his element everywhere by now. Surprisingly, Zuko was not doing so himself.

After a few long, angry seconds, Zuko was thinking about releasing his hold, but apparently Sokka wasn't done. Not yet.

"You have no idea what she's going through! She's stuck with a kid, and she's the one who has to bear that responsibility, not you!"

"Are you fucking joking? That child is-"

"What are you guys doing?!"

It was Katara who spoke, but she was accompanied by Toph, Suki, and Aang. When Zuko met the waterbender's eyes, however, he swallowed down her pain streaked blotchy eyes. At the sight, he felt his muscles weaken, his arms going slack. Sokka shrugged away with a huff, striding towards his sister. His sister, who was glowering at Zuko. He gulped.

"What the hell are you thinking? He's still my brother!"

Zuko didn't say anything, only looked down into boots. His behaviour was shameful, he knew that. But did he regret it?

"I told Dad."

And she smacked her brother.

No, no he didn't regret it.

The six of them managed to avoid each other for the rest of the day, all of them trying to cool off and think things over. Or, at least that's what Zuko was trying to do. As for the rest of them, he had no idea what they were up to. They could be ripping each others throats out for all he knew.

As long as they weren't harming Katara.

It wasn't until late into the evening, when Zuko was staring blankly into a pile of paperwork on his desk that he was greeted with human contact. He knew it was the earthbender, for she didn't bother to knock, she just waltzed right into his study.

"Twinkletoes is leaving."

Zuko jolted up from his seat, knocking it over in the process. Was Katara…?

"Sheesh, Sparky, calm down."

"Is he taking Katara with him?"

She hesitated, her shoulders heaving slightly.

"No. But he's going to get her dad."

No. This wasn't right, this wasn't right. He knew Aang was hurting, but for him to be the one to bring Hakoda to them? To her? No, it just wasn't right.

"You better hurry, he's leaving like...now. Right now."

He bolted out the door of his office, sprinting down the lengthy corridors that lead to the main courtyard. But it was too late. When he burst open the grand doors, he could already see the bison flying off in the distance.

He'd just stepped back into the parlor, when he heard a set of footsteps rushing toward him. But it wasn't Toph who'd rounded the corridor.

"Toph….told me….Aang…."

Those blue eyes, Agni those blue eyes. They weren't meant to contain such hurt, such sorrow, such worry. They were meant to lighten the room with joy, with love. But they were dark, and dim, matching her quivering frown.

"I tried to stop him, but…."

"No!"

She was crying now, almost wailing, a mess of hysteria and salty tears. She tried to dash out the doors, but Zuko stopped her. She struggled relentlessly, screaming and scratching at the Fire Lord. With a huff, Zuko wrangled her against the walls, forcing her still as he had done earlier to her brother. But this time it wasn't a cocky rage that filled her eyes. It was white irate fury, lurking deep within her irises. But also, there was sorrow, so much sorrow and so many tears and she was shaking and crying and screaming and Zuko tried to shush her but he just couldn't and he felt so useless that he couldn't help this girl, this girl that he….that he….

"H-he's gone, he's gone and it's all my fault! He's never….he's never going to….we're never going to be…."

"He still cares for you, Katara, he's just hurt right now and-"

"I hurt him!" she wailed, tears slipping between her babbling lips as she shivered.

"He'll forgive you, Katara, that's what he does, you know that."

"No, he won't."

She was staring at him now, still shaking and whimpering in his clutches but she was staring at him with such power that laid behind all the layers of sadness within her cobalt eyes and she was so beautiful and Zuko felt so guilty to think of such things when she was in such a state and he tried to breathe he really did but oh Agni his lungs were failing him.

"W-why….why won't he forgive y-"

But the last few letters were blocked from leaving his mouth when a pair of salty lips fell onto his and she was kissing him and she was clawing at him and tugging at him and she was so good, her skin was so good, he'd nearly forgotten the feel of her plump lips across his neck and his jawline and his collar bone but he never really forgot because how could you forget how it feels when you're burning.

She was moaning now through her tears, long, desperate sounds as she pushed against him and Zuko pushed back and oh Agni oh Agni oh Agni she's so good.

Too soon, oh too soon she pulled back and her eyes were leaking into him, lips ajar, breaths hot and heavy and I can't breathe because she's stealing all my air.

"He won't forgive me….because I think I'm in love with someone else."