Something was wrong, that was evident to Zuko. The ship was quiet; usually it was loud with all the soldiers' skuttlebutting. But not tonight; it was eerily silent. Where have they all gone? Zuko wondered. He was up at the bridge now, and then he saw it— the pirate's mutant parrot. Zuko ran like hell to get off that ship, but he was a little slow…BANG! Was the sound that he was hoping to avoid. He didn't.

He dove into the water just as the ship exploded. The explosion started on the first deck and worked its way down the ship, causing the ship to explode level by level. Debris dropped into the water after him. Zuko swam as far down as he could, then in the opposite shore. He finally made it.

Zuko was exhausted by the time he climbed out of the water and onto dry land. He steamed himself dry and then went to sleep beneath a tree. In the morning he would find his uncle and those bastard pirates.

Zuko woke late the next morning, it was the first time he had ever slept past sunrise. Well that wasn't all true, he had slept until midmorning once with Katara. Katara…The word seemed to distant. He started to ache, he loved her so much and then she left him. He had accepted it for the last few months but now it hit home. He had nothing in this world left. Dear Agni did he wished she would come back. It had been 5 months but it seemed like an eternity for him.

Not a day passed that he didn't miss her but he knew it would only be a little while until the war was over and then they could be together once again. He would make her his fire lady as soon as humanly possible and he would make treaties with the water tribe and the earth kingdom. He would make sure all prisoners were released and returned to their homes. And every fire nation citizen would return to fire nation soil and he would force ways to go back as they were before the war and life would be good. It was going to be difficult but he was willing to do it all. And the best thought was Katara would be at his side.

Those are the thoughts that gave him strength to get up and go into town. Once there he looked around for some member of his crew and most importantly his uncle. He thought the bars and tea shops would be best for looking. After he searched all the bars he only found two soldiers and they were so drunk they had passed out. He was at his second to last tea house when he walked in and there was his uncle crying.

"Uncle! I found you!" Zuko cried out.

Iroh looked up and saw what he thought was a ghost at first, "Zuko? Is that really you?"

"Yes uncle." Zuko came and sat next to uncle giving him and awkward hug. They hugged and Iroh cried.

------------------------------------------------------

Several months later in Ba Sing Say

Zuko and his uncle had gone through a lot before they reached the gates of Ba Sing Say. It was a long sad road. Zuko could not stop thinking of Katara. Why was his heart treating him like this? He was going to see her again. He hated seeing water and anything blue; it all made him think of her. Every once in a while he would hear a rumor of where the avatar was but nothing important enough to pay much attention to.

And now they were finally there. It was huge! The wall was as high as one hundred men, or at least two fire nation palaces.

Zuko and Iroh slipped in like just a couple of refuges. It was perfect. Once in Iroh found them jobs and an apartment in a nicer part of the outer ring. Sadly the job was a tea server. Of course Zuko hated working there but it kept his mind off Katara. He was always busy, serving or washing. He didn't brew the tea for fear of crushing the pots and lighting all the herbs on fire. He didn't have the patience for all the careful and proper measurements.

And one day a girl about his age walked in and ordered a cup of tea. She's beautiful, Zuko thought. He mentally slapped himself, he had a girl. She may not be with him right now but he had one and he wasn't looking for one. But she was pretty, very pretty not as good looking as Katara though.

"Can I get you something?" Zuko asked as he did for every patron, he was trying to not sound interested in her; he was doing a good job at it.

"I'll have the house special and a dingle berry muffin." She smiled sweetly. It was the kind of smile you give to someone you're attracted to.

Zuko couldn't help but give her a small smile, his boss was watching and Zuko had the feeling uncle Iroh was too. He walked off and a few minutes later came back with the order. She flirted with him some but not too much because Zuko said he had to cater to the other people in the shop.

After that she came into the shop EVERY day, she would always do the same thing; order a cup of tea and a muffin. She did change the tea and muffin though. But she always flirted with Zuko. It was starting to get on his nerves. It was getting on his nerves because he was sure he was starting to like her. That was bad, he LOVED Katara not this girl Song.

But then one day she asked him out. Zuko was in such shock that he couldn't talk all he could do was bug his eyes out. Iroh saw this and accepted for him. Iroh then made the arrangements then guided Zuko away.

Once they were in the back room Zuko found his voice, "Uncle why did you do that?! I can't go out with her!"

"Yes you can. You are a very eligible young man. You're handsome, young, and you have a job. I'm surprised more girls aren't after you. You will go and have a good time." He said in his kindest voice, laying an arm on his nephew.

Zuko just stood there with huge eyes, he was taken. But there was no point in fighting with his uncle.

------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the day Zuko couldn't concentrate. Eventually his shift ended, but that gave him no relief; his date was about to start. He decided he was going to have a good time. He hadn't seen Katara in six months and he could use a night out.

He didn't think of Katara once on the entire date. Song did most of the talking but every once in a while he would talk with her. He was just a man of a few words.

Song took him to a small fountain at the end of their date. She was a bit disappointed because the candles around it weren't lit.

Zuko hated to see people in pain so he told her to hide her eyes. Then he perfectly executed small flames and lit all the candles, about two dozen total.

"Open your eyes." Zuko said in his same monotone voice as always.

"Oh! It's beautiful! How did you do it?" She was acting like a small child on their birthday.

Other words were exchanged before she said she had something for him. He was curious and he got close to her, she kissed him.

She was the third girl to kiss him, but not the best; Katara was the best kisser. Zuko was so shocked that he told her he needed to leave after they broke apart.

After Zuko got home uncle Iroh asked how it was and he said it was fun and that he had a great time. Which was all true. But as he was falling asleep he couldn't but help feeling a little guilty. Katara was somewhere with her idiot brother and the avatar. They were either flying or sleeping on the ground right now. She was most likely cooking or sewing for them, and what was he doing? Going out on a date! Was that considered cheating? He finally decided not and that whatever happened Katara was who his heart belonged to.

Okay so how was that? The next part is going to be from Katara and what they are doing at the same time as this is taking place. I will have it up soon so they seem like one chapter. It would be too much to be in one, and too confusing if I kept switching. Or at least that's what I think, I hate switching like that. And I did my best to remember the episodes that the basic plot lines took place. But sorry if stuff is wrong.

NOW YOU MUST REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!