The Love Between Water and Fire

Chapter 23 - Love Sick

North Pole

"Mei, get up!" shouted Katara. "It's time for your Water Bending lessons."

"Katara!" shouted Aang.

"Aang, don't yell I'm right here." said Katara.

"Right, sorry." said Aang. "Mei isn't breathing."

"What?" asked Katara. "No, she's not deat is she? Please tell me she's not dead!"

"No, she's not, I felt her pulse." said Aang. "We need to get her to the healer's hut fast."

Aang went to Mei's room, and carried her in his arms.

"Uncle." said Mei in a weak voice. "I can't -"

"Save your strength Mei." said Aang. "We're almost at the healer's hut."

"How did she get sick in the first place?" asked Sokka, as he ran behind Aang.

"I'm not sure." said Aang.

Healer's Hut

"Lady Kara!" shouted Aang.

"Please, don't yell Avatar Aang." said Kara. "There are many sick people in our hut."

"Sorry, but, Mei." said Aang.

"What's her condition?" asked Kara.

"I went to wake her up, but she wasn't breathing." said Aang.

"Oh dear, place her down here." said Kara. "Anything else?"

"Her heart was beating at a slow rate." said Aang.

"Seems like she has a fever too." said Kara as she felt her forehead. "I'll do the best I can."

"The best you can!" shouted Sokka.

The other healers looked up and stared at Sokka.

"Please leave." said Kara. "You're disturbing the other healers and their patients."

Aang bowed. "Please make sure she's okay Lady Kara."

"Ofcourse." said Kara.

Outside

Sokka looked toward the horizon. "It's a Fire Nation war balloon."

"You don't think - "

"It's Zuko." said Sokka. "What is that rotten - "

"What did the healer say?" asked Katara.

"She'll do the best she can." said Aang. "Don't worry, Lady Kara is one of the best healers in the North Pole."

"This is the first time I've seen her like this. I just hope she doesn't have anything serious." said Katara.

"Actually, we haven't been telling you everything that's been happening lately." said Aang.

"What do you mean?" asked Katara.

"Stuff like that has been happening to Mei before." said Aang. "We just didn't want to worry you, because of the stuff you went though with Zuko."

"Aang, my problems aren't important to me. I care about Mei the most." said Katara. "When has this happened before?"

"Most of the time when you were away." said Aang. "The first time that happend to her was when she turned seven, then it happened to her again when she turned nine, and now this is her third time."

Katara held Aang tightly. "Aang. I'm scared. I was so caught up in my own problems, that I didn't even notice that my daughter was sick."

"Everything is going to be fine Katara." said Aang.

The war balloon landed, and Zuko walked down. Katara looked at him, and looked away.

"I don't want to see him." said Katara, and she began to walk away from him.

"Katara!" yelled Zuko.

Sokka crossed his arms and walked toward Zuko.

"Now isn't the time for you to be here." said Sokka. "Can't you see she doesn't want to talk to you?"

"Are you looking for a fight?" asked Zuko.

"Why do you come back now?" asked Sokka. "Your four years are up."

"I thought she was killed." said Zuko.

"That's a lame excuse." said Sokka, and he walked away from him.

Zuko went after them, until she saw Katara against a pillar, with her arms crossed.

"Talk." said Katara. "I don't have much time, but talk."

"Katara." said Zuko. "I'm sorry it took me this long to come back for you."

Katara stared at the ground.

"I thought you were killed." said Zuko, as he held her by the shoulders.

"Is that all you could come up with?" asked Katara.

Zuko took out the letter and gave it to Katara, she grabbed it without looking up at him.

"That's not true! The South Pole wasn't raided!" yelled Katara. "Who - "

"I came here to apologize." said Zuko. He looked at her neck, and realised that the neclace she had before, was replaced with a betrothal necklace.

Katara looked up at him. "Azula did this didnt' she?"

"She's not the only one who took everything away from me." said Zuko, as he held Katara's betrothal necklace.

"I'm sorry Zuko." said Katara.

"Those six years, when I thought you were dead. It took me forever to get over you. Just when I thought I was ready to move on, your father says you're here, alive." said Zuko. "Now I want you back, you and Mei."

"You broke our promise." said Katara.

"You read that letter Katara! I didn't break our promise. I came back for you!" said Zuko. "I still love you Katara."

"Hey, back away from my fiance'."

"Kio." said Katara.

Zuko looked back. "I came here to regain something I've lost, and I'm not going anywhere until I get it back."

"Courtyard, at noon." said Kio, and he walked away.

"Zuko, please don't." said Katara. "Just leave."

"I'm not leaving you Katara." said Zuko. "I'm not leaving Mei either."

A loud cry came from the healer's tent, Kara walked out.

"Katara! Please come here!" shouted Kara. "It's Mei."

Katara ran to the healer's hut, followed by Zuko.

"Daddy!" shouted Mei, her eyes were still shut.

Katara held her daughter by the hands. "Mei, it's alright, mommy is here."

Mei started to cry. "Daddy!"

Zuko picked her up and patted her on the back. "Mei, it's me, daddy is here."

Katara looked away. Mei started to calm down, and her crying left her with sobbing noises, she held Zuko tightly.

"I'm never going to leave your side." said Zuko. "I promise."

End of Chapter 23