Katara watched Iroh training Zuko. Zuko was so impatient it made Katara twitch. Iroh saw that Zuko needed a break, so he proclaimed he would fetch some tea. Zuko groaned and pulled at his hair as he sat hopelessly on the floor. Katara walked up to him and softly removed his hands from his hair. She pulled him up from the floor.

"Come here."

Katara was so gentle; it reminded him of his mother. But it was the opposite of his father. Katara stood in position as she moved her arms. She brought water to her slowly. She concentrated then let it go. She looked at Zuko.

"Get into position. No, like this."

Katara moved up to him and positioned him herself.

"Very good, now breathe in and out."

Zuko did just that.

"Now close your eyes. Let your element flow through, but keep it under control. Release your tension and let it go."

Zuko contained a flame and gently controlled it as he listened to his guide. He closed his hand and the flame disappeared. Zuko looked up at Katara and smiled with much joy. His smile was wide and his mouth hung open, unable to say anything. Katara smiled at him.

"I think I'll call you fireworks!"

Zuko seemed to collect himself.

"Katara! I did it! I did it!"

"Yes you did an awesome job!"

He did a little dance around the room. Katara laughed. Iroh smiled as he leaned against the door post, he had seen everything.

Two months had past and Katara had again hoped to find Zuko. It was getting dark. She spotted him in position for practice. He was relaxing.

"Fireworks?"

"Katara! What are you doing here this late?"

"Zuko, My father is meeting with the fire lord and I am really nervous."

Zuko was silent. Katara had no idea that he was the fire prince and that his father was the fire lord. She didn't know that his sister was the princess. Would he hate her? She was water nation. He could not bear the thought. Katara brought him outside as they sat in the soft grass and stared up at the sky.

"Don't you ever wish you could touch the stars?"

Katara reached as high as she could. Zuko smiled. Katara was a dreamer and would reach for anything without fear or hesitation. He had so many questions he wanted to ask her, but did not want to come on to fast.

"Katara, do you hate the fire lord?"

Katara was silent and thought a minute.

"No"

Relief flooded into Zuko, but as she continued, he became sad.

"But I am sad how much he wants to hurt my people. I hate how people categorize people. If you are a fire bender, then you must hate an earth bender or one from the fire nation. That is what I hate. I am friends with people for who they are, not what they are."

Zuko's soul flew as he heard her last words. So she did not hate him.

"Katara, do you have a mother?"

"Yes, and I love her a lot."

"Me too, I don't know what I would do without her."

Katara seemed surprised at the subject change, but adapted quickly.

"Me neither, she brings warmth and love. If anything bad would happen, I think I might fall apart."

"Katara, are you my friend?"

Katara replied quickly.

"Of course I am and you are my friend. Do not ever forget that."