Zuko…..

"I do love you Zuko… but you must understand, it's been a while… and only in my dreams have I thought of you coming back…." She looked at him cautiously. His eyes remained fixed on the water. "Well, I'm sorry I found you and came back… I'll leave now." He turned away and began walking a few paces away from her. She looked at him, with an utmost confusion and panic. "No! Zuko, wait!! I didn't mean it the way it came out…. I have missed you but you need to give me time…I just saw you, after two years…" He turned his head slightly, as to speak to her. "…How do I truly know that? How do I know that that's how you feel?" He turned his whole body facing her, recognizing her nudity but pushed it out of his mind. "I have never stopped thinking of you, Katara. I pledged that I would find you and never let you go….don't fool me when I'm vulnerable and then ignore me when I'm not…." She gazed at his face, and then looked down at the water. "I'm not trying to fool you, I'm being truthful. I don't want to see you leave, but I want to spend time with you… rekindle the flame; if you will."

His lips turned the shape of a small grin, barely recognizable. "Really, where would you like to go? What do you want to do? There's so much that's happened." She suppressed a giggle, and smiled gingerly at his sudden anxiety to get closer to her…. "Wow, that was a sudden change of heart?" He grinned at her, so pleased at the tone their conversation had turned. "I don't want to waste any time…. Come on, put your clothes back on; I can't fight urges forever." She looked down at her form, and surrounded herself with water immediately. "You knew, and you didn't tell me!!" She turned toward the shore, and stood with the clothes in her hands. "Urges for what?" She suddenly recalled his last remark, before she grabbed her clothes. He looked at her knowingly. "You know what, do you need for me to explain…." She blushed, and ran toward the nearest tree to put on her clothes. He got out of the river, and began drying his pants with his fire bending. She stepped out from behind the tree and gawked at him. "What?" He asked with curiosity in his tone. She stared at his hands. "It's just been so long since I've seen you, let alone any other person fire bend…." She looked down at her hands, and was frightened when she felt two hands slither around her waist. "I'm sorry I frightened you, I didn't mean to…." He hesitantly kissed her neck, and nuzzled it…. "I've missed you so much, you don't even know….." She blushed slightly at his comment. "….I've missed you too…" She turned her head slightly to press her cheek to his lips. "I love you…. and… thank you, for finding me." He spun her around and placed his lips gently onto hers. His lips parted slightly, to show that he wished for more. She stuck her tongue in his mouth, and brushed his lower lip. He moaned at the quick gesture, he caressed her tongue with his own and tightened his arm around her waist, so she wouldn't break loose. She began moving her head to the side and sucking his lower lip... He backed away, releasing her in the process and moved several paces back. "What is it?" She asked, suddenly nervous and sad that the kiss ended so abruptly. "I'm not sure, I thought I heard something." He looked at her thoughtfully, showing that he was sorry for the sudden end he had just given her. "What did you hear?" She asked suddenly curious to whatever noise that startled him. He stiffened a bit. "I thought I heard…. Azula….I'm not sure why but I thought I did." She gazed at him, wondering how that came to be. She waited for him to speak again.

"Ever since I left the Fire nation, I've always felt uneasiness about Azula… thinking that she may be following me….." She stared at him, waiting for him to continue. "She was locked up after the death of Ozai; she was released a year ago….all I know is, she's not allowed any ranking in the Fire nation…. I don't want her to come back into my life…" His eyes met hers, and she ran to him… "I….I….I'm sorry I left you…. I shouldn't have, you could've been in the palace; safe from your sister…." He placed one arm around her waist, pulling her close and the other hand reached out to caress her cheek. "…If I was hiding in some palace, I wouldn't have found you….and I wouldn't be here right now." He kissed her cheek and released her from his hold, but still held her hand as they walked to a nearby Motel for food and sleep.