Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender.

Chapter 11- Tempest and a Teapot

Zuko awoke the next morning, groggy and fuzzy-minded. And there was a bad taste in his mouth, most likely the after effects of whatever was put in his drink.

"Uncle…" he growled under his breath. The prince attempted to sit up and run off to find his uncle to tell him what he thought of him again, but was met with a dizzy spell as soon as his feet touched the floor. Sitting on his bed he waited for it to pass and, moving slowly to avoid another wave of dizziness, he dressed and headed towards the galley, where he suspected his dear old uncle to be sitting for his mid-morning tea.

He wasn't in much of a hurry. He knew his uncle would be sure to stay around for an afternoon cup shortly after. And surely enough, sitting at his usual table was the silly old man setting down an empty cup with a contented sigh.

"Good morning Prince Zuko," he said catching sight of his nephew walking through the doorway. "Although, technically you woke up late, seeing as the sun rose several hours ago, but that is to be expected when you- uh… yesterday… well, um…"

"Yes, Uncle. Let's talk about yesterday," he barked, his anger flaring. "And we'll start with why I passed out on deck!"

"Oh, well… you see," he said, trying to regain composure, "you and Miss Katara were being awfully stubborn. You were going to dance yourselves to death. You were already exhausted by the time I stopped you. I'm sure you were having lots of fun, but even you couldn't have lasted much longer going at that rate."

"Fun?! You think I was having fun?! I was only dancing with that peasant because-"

"That peasant has a name," came an icy cool voice from the door at the prince's back. "Use it."

"Oh, good morning, Miss Ka-" Iroh started.

"Fine. I was only dancing with Katara because apparently I have no other choice! I don't see how she can help us anyhow! We go in, grab the Avatar, and get out! It will be just like last time!" he fumed at his uncle.

"Would you like to have something to-"

"What do you mean, 'just like last time?' When was there a last time!?" Katara raised her own voice against the now irate prince, who turned and glared at her.

"Quiet!" burst the old man at the table. Regaining his cool demeanor he motioned to the seats before him. "Will the both of you please have a seat? It seems we have some things to discuss."

"Such as why we were drugged!" Zuko demanded.

"That can wait. Right now we have bigger problems. Before you both awoke, Lieutenant Ji informed me that there is a massive storm brewing, bigger than the one earlier this season." The old man could see both teenagers remember the day when Katara tried to escape and was saved by Zuko. "We will need everyone's help. And I do mean everyone," he said, looking pointedly at the waterbender. His nephew caught the stare.

"What can she do to help?" he sneered.

"She is a waterbender, and last time I checked, Prince Zuko, rain was water." His tone was obviously telling Zuko to be more polite. Turning back to the girl, he said, "Katara, will you help us?"

"Of course. If this boat sinks, so do I." Although, she knew, deep down, that wasn't the only reason.

"Wonderful! I've been told the storm is to hit sometime tomorrow, so we will have some time to prepare."

"This waiting. It's horrid. I almost wish the storm were here already." There was nothing more for Katara to do on deck, so she stood at the bow and stared off into the coming storm.

"I never get used to it. Every spring it's been the same. The storms build over in the east and they always seem to aim right for us. I keep thinking 'This next one is going to rip the ship apart for sure.' But it never does. And there's always the waiting. Watching it gather strength over the horizon. Then seeing it come closer. You can see the wind on the ocean. The waves always hit us before the rain. God I hate this ocean." Zuko calmed down after a while and some work around the ship, tying things down, storing that which wasn't nailed to the ground. They stood overlooking the rising storm, Zuko taking a break from training, his way of coping with the tension, Katara just staring off into the distance.

"How long have you been out at sea?" It was an innocent question, or so she thought.

"Too long," he replied slowly. "Much too long." Her questioning look compelled him to continue. "Three years ago, just after I… received this scar, my father sent me out in search of the Avatar. No one believed I would find him, not even me sometimes. But I had to keep looking or else I couldn't-" He stopped, not really wanting to explain everything to some stupid water peasant. I seem to call her that a lot…

"Go on," she asked. "Please?"

He was quiet for a moment, and she was starting to believe he wasn't going to answer.

"Or else I could never go home," he said finally, with great sadness in his voice.

"I don't understand."

"You wouldn't, would you, peas-" Zuko caught himself before he said peasant. Somewhere deep inside, he knew she despised the title. "Katara," he finished quietly.

"That's the first time you've called me by my name. That is, of your own free will," Katara stated after another moment's silence. "Thank you." She turned to look out over the horizon and the brewing storm. "Will you tell me something?"

"Hmm?"

"How did you get your scar?"

It was the question he had been dreading. But it was as though the coming storm was erasing boundaries and hard feelings.

"I showed weakness. I finally convinced Uncle to let me accompany him into the war chamber, as long as I promised to stay quiet. One of the generals proposed we send a brand new battalion into the front lines. Then the rest of the army would come around and attack from the rear. The battalion was sure to be slaughtered, and I spoke out, saying that men showing such patriotism to their country didn't need to die as a diversion. I was challenged to an Agni Kai- a fire bender's duel. I thought that since I argued with the general, I would face him. But because I was in my father's war chamber, it was he whom I met in the arena. I begged for mercy and forgiveness, but I had to be punished for my weakness, then I was banished and told I would never be able to return home unless I brought him the Avatar…" his voice trailed off sadly.

"Do you really believe you deserved that? That you deserve to be scarred for caring about human life?" Katara turned to look him in the eye. "Your father is a sick and twisted man, Prince Zuko. You must believe that."

"My father loves me!" he roared, his anger returning.

"Loves you enough to scar and banish his only son and heir to the throne?" Her voice was calm as she contradicted all the lies he had been telling himself over the last three years in a matter of minutes. His father did not love him. He had to accept that.

Zuko's mind reeled. If his father no longer loved him, why did he need to continue his fruitless mission to capture the Avatar? Was he to give up? What was left for him?

Katara could see the conflict on the prince's face and she could guess the object of his distress.

"Join us."

Her sudden comment startled him.

"What?"

"Join us. You don't need to chase Aang anymore. Come with us and we can stop your father," she persuaded.

"I refuse to turn my back on my country! It's treason!" The thought of it was appalling. He loved his country.

"You won't be! Don't you see? You can help your country! This war is tearing everyone apart and I can tell you oppose it yourself. If you join us, you can take back your throne and end this war."

After several quiet moments, he finally answered.

"No. I… I just can't do it."

Katara sighed, but resigned. Again she looked out to the storm steadily approaching as the prince headed back inside the ship's cabin.

"Come along, Prince Zuko! The storm is almost here!" Iroh called to his nephew in the galley.

"Coming…" he said solemnly.

"What's wrong?" the old man stopped to ask.

"She's right."

"What?"

"Katara. She's right. My father doesn't love me, he is destroying the world, and I could help. But it would mean going against everything I've ever learned. I would be fighting alongside he who has been my enemy for so long. It would be treason. Again!"

"Prince Zuko, if you believe what Katara has told you is the right thing to do, then I suggest you follow your heart."

"But… I'm afraid," he said in a small voice and hurried off to the deck to face the oncoming storm.

Was that cliffhanger-ish? I was hoping it would be at least a smidge. I am DREADFULLY SORRY I haven't updated in several months. If you still love me, leave some love, for reviews are gifts from the gods. I ♥ them.

I feel as though this story is kinda rambling. There isn't much happening in these chapters that has much of anything to do with the plot, except for maybe showing how our wonderful couple is getting closer. Or am I actually writing something? Help me out, would ya?