Okay, this is a one-shot, sort of. They're drabbles together, and I'm working to…fifty right now.

Shipping: Zutara

When: After last episode

After Bai Sing Se had fallen, the King had been quiet to himself, since he sadly stated that his city was gone. Even though they all thought that Zuko and Iroh would leave them alone, they were all wrong.

Appa slept on an island nearby as did the rest, but that was what was most threatening.

"Uncle…" Zuko said, out of breath, after trying to beat his sister up and follow the Avatar. "Uncle, we have to find them."

Iroh sighed and nodded in agreement, "I know, Prince Zuko. We can go look for them in the morning."

"No!" he hissed, walking off out doors, looking at the sky for any trace of their giant bison. Running to the edge of the land, his feet deep into the water, he looked around as carefully as he could. Something in the distance flew by and was heading downward. "I found them," he said to himself, bringing out a canoe, leaving his uncle looking after him into the water sadly.

The water was calm beneath his canoe, but he slowly made his way to the island. The moon was bright, even though the sun was inching upward; he enjoyed the moment while it lasted.

Sooner than he intended, his canoe bumped the land that was so far away short time ago.

Katara looked up, alarmed, not liking the fact that she heard somebody come near her and her friends. Looking ahead, she saw somebody parking their boat.

"Who are you?" she asked with a shaky voice, standing up and in bending position.

When he came closer into view, she knew it was Zuko, the same sweet guy she'd seen once a few hours before. But he wasn't so sweet.

"I finally got you," he muttered, looking past Katara and at the sleeping Avatar. "Move now, water peasant, and let me get him out of your way."

"No," Katara said, stepping forward and started to bend.

They fought but Zuko didn't continue the fight because he was weaker under the moonlight. He managed to pile Aang into his canoe, still asleep and drowsy while Katara was pushed to the ground screaming.

"We can't have you screaming and telling them where the Avatar went," Zuko thought. He roped her wrists together and put her by Aang, whom he'd tied up, too.

Slowly paddling away from the island, he stopped for a moment, admiring the quietness, all except for Katara's muffled screaming by Zuko's hand.

She bit him harshly and he winced. "Don't try to protect him," he said. "There's no reason you should. Has he even protected you?"

"Yes!" Katara cried. "He has!"

Zuko was quiet, looking into the water peasant's eyes. "And you did too," she whispered, trying to get him to calm down. "But it didn't last very long."

He knew what she was talking about; "I have to restore my father's honor," he explained.

"You say that all the time, but you never do. You were with your sister, who is a complete witch."

Zuko closed his eyes, thinking about the conversation they had before. She'd almost healed his scar, but then the Avatar and his uncle interrupted. Would things be different if they came a little later?

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"What?" she asked.

"You're one of the only people that have tried to help me," he explained. "Even if it didn't work out…thank you."

Katara looked surprised. "I…it was nothing," she said, her face turning red.

A real smile, even though it was only a few inches appeared on Zuko's face. She kissed his cheek which caused him to smile only a few centimeters more.