Katara packed her a few of the Fire Nation dresses that Zuko had given her when she first came to the fire nation. She folded them and carefully placed them in the bottom of her bag. She thought for a moment about what to do with her betroval necklace, she didn't want to leave it there. Katara decided to keep the necklace, as a reminder of her love. When the child was older it would always have a memory of its father.

After making her decision to keep the necklace she filled her water flask, and placed it around her waist. Then she brought the strap of the bag over her shoulder, she felt the wounds on her back from her fight with Suoh earlier that day. She ignored the pain and walked to the door. She took a deep breathe before turning the knob, and leaving the bedroom.

Meanwhile Zuko was in the library, he sat in a chair, not reading but thinking. He wished she would stay, but she had already made her decision. Not only was he losing his wife, but also he was losing his first child. The thought of marrying another women and having more children made him sick. His one and only love was leaving him forever.

Zuko continued to gather his thoughts, when Iroh came into the library. He looked to his nephew and knew something was troubling him. "What's wrong, nephew?" Iroh asked him. Zuko looked to the old man who sat in a chair beside him.

"Katara is leaving." Zuko said quietly. Iroh could sense Zuko's grief and sadness through his nephew's tone.

"Zuko you need to understand, that Katara is a strong, independent young women. If she has chosen to leave you, I'm sure she must have a good reason." Iroh said.

"She hates it here, she can't stand all the fighting and the fact that I am gone every morning when she wakes up." Zuko said.

"She is scared, Zuko." Iroh told him, and Zuko looked to his uncle in confusion.

"Scared of what?" Zuko asked.

"She is scared to marry you. If she does, will she be accepted to your people?" Iroh said and that made Zuko think.

"I don't care if people don't accept her, I accept her and I do not need any ones approval to marry her." Zuko said, and Iroh noticed Zuko's confidence rising.

Meanwhile Katara was walking away from the palace. She didn't know where she was going. All she knew was that if she could get to the ocean she could find a boat to take her to the South Pole. The weather was torture; the sun beat down on her and made it a very uncomfortable walk. When she was far away from the palace, she stopped and turned to look at it. She knew it was the last time she'd ever see it. With that last glance she turned and began walking again.

Back with Zuko and Iroh, Zuko continued to think.

"She has probably already left by now." Zuko said sadly.

"Maybe you could take your dragon, what's his name …?" Iroh suggested.

"Ryu." Zuko said and the thoughts began to form in his head. "I can fly to Katara, talk to her, and beg her to return." Zuko said enthusiastically. Iroh smiled to himself and got out of the chair.

"That sounds like a great plan." Iroh said and began to leave the library. Zuko got out of his chair and began to run to the door.

"Thank you, uncle!" Zuko said as he ran by Iroh and out the door.

"You're welcome!" Iroh called after him and smiled again.

Katara was exhausted. She began to walk slower and slower with each step she took. The bright sun beat upon her, so she grabbed her water flask and popped open the spout. She drank every last drop of it, and she was still thirsty for more. She decided to leave the water flask there. It was useless without any water, so she dropped it on the ground and continued walking.

Zuko had gotten his dragon Ryu for his eighteenth birthday from his uncle. Dragons where normally used to deliver messages or travel to other nations. Zuko flew Ryu high above the sky and away from the palace. The breeze kept him cool, and there were no clouds at all, due to the heat from the sun. It hardly ever rained in the Fire Nation. Zuko continued to keep a sharp eye for her. He figured she had taken the main road, so he flew high above and commanded Ryu to fly faster.

Katara felt her cheeks turning red due to sun burn. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve and continued walking. The wounds on her back were still fresh and caused her much pain as she walked and sweated.

Katara figured it would be about two days travel to the ocean, and she was already out of water. She hoped the baby could survive; she did much research during her time in the Fire Nation and knew that if she was uncomfortable, that also meant the baby was also uncomfortable. She looked at her feet as she walked, and she began to see double vision. She stopped and closed her eyes for a moment, she held her head. Katara opened her eyes and continued walking.

Zuko urged Ryu to fly faster, and the dragon did as commanded. Zuko looked from one side of the beast to the other, and his eyes followed the road. He then spotted something in the middle of the road. He quickly commanded Ryu to land beside the item. Zuko jumped off the beast and walked to Katara's water flask, he held it in his hand. Zuko knew Katara had been here, and that she didn't have any water. Zuko quickly ran back to Ryu, he placed the water flask behind him and commanded the dragon to fly. Ryu flew high above the ground and continued to follow the road.

Zuko's eyes scanned the road, until he saw a figure. He looked harder until he saw it was a woman. He found Katara and he began to fly lower.

"Katara!" Zuko yelled to her, and brought the dragon lower and lower. Katara heard a noise from behind her, and thought it was in her head, she continued walking.

Zuko saw that she continued to walk so he landed Ryu on the road behind her; he jumped off and ran to her.

"Katara!" Zuko yelled and ran to her. Katara definitely heard something that time. She turned around to see Zuko running towards her, tears formed in her eyes and she smiled.

"Zuko." She said and turned her body all the way around. Zuko ran to her and wrapped his arms around her. Even though Katara was really hot and his body heat wasn't helping. She was so happy to see him, she leaned into his chest and began to cry.

"I'm so sorry." Zuko said and held her tighter. Katara placed her head on his chest.

"I'm sorry too." Katara said.

"I can't lose you, I love you." Zuko said and continued to hold her.

"I love you too." Katara said quietly, she was so tired. Katara needed to kiss him. So she picked up her head from his chest and looked into his eyes.

Without her saying anything Zuko brought his lips to hers and kissed her strongly. Katara pushed into his lips with what energy she had left. Katara broke the kiss and fell against him, she was so tired and dehydrated.

She fainted from heat exhaustion, and fell into his arms. Zuko carefully picked her up and walked her to Ryu. Zuko placed Katara in his lap and put her bag behind him. Zuko rested her head on his chest and commanded Ryu to fly.

Once they reached the palace, Ryu landed and Zuko carefully climbed off of Ryu with Katara in his arms. He placed her arm around his neck and walked down the hall way. Katara's body was limp and she remained life less.

Zuko walked her into their bed room and lightly placed her on the bed. He looked at her and noticed that the betroval necklace was still tied around her neck. Zuko smiled and walked to get a bowl of water and a towel. He returned to the bed and damped the towel he carefully brought the towel around her face, and through her hair.

After a few moments Katara's eyes slowly began to open, she looked up at him. "Zuko…" She said and reached for his hand.

"You're awake." Zuko said and placed the towel on the night stand. He looked back at her. "Are you alright?" Zuko asked and grabbed her hand that laid on her stomach.

"Yeah, just thirsty." Katara said, and with that Zuko got out of bed and got her water. Katara sat up. Zuko handed her some water to drink. She sipped the water, it felt so good on her throat, she drank it all. Zuko just smiled and sat beside her. Katara placed the cup on her night stand and looked at Zuko.

"Thank you." She said quietly, and grabbed his hand. Zuko held her hand and looked at her.

"I love you, Katara." Zuko said and turned to her. He got on his hands and knees, placing his hands on either side of her legs and looked into her eyes, asking for a kiss. Katara smiled, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I love you too, Zuko." She said and brought their lips together in a tender kiss. Zuko pressed his lips against hers and she grabbed the back of his neck pulling his head farther into her lips. They broke the kiss and looked stared into each other's eyes.

THE END

Authors Note: There will be an epilogue.