DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Avatar: The Last Airbender. I don't own anything related to it. I earn no money from this. In fact, I earn nothing from it but my own enjoyment. I make no profit from my writings and don't want to; they're based on someone else's work and I would rather make my own way.

Thank you guys for the reviews!

Responses:

AnnaAza: Thank you for the review! And I think we'll see about that, at some point.

XxEvilMasterMindxX: It was a little bit forced, but I don't think it was all too much. After all, they had more than an entire summer to fall for each other, and Aang's was more of a love-at-first-sight thing. Thank you for the review!

donnacrunch: Thank you! I thought it was…vital, to their future relationship, that he would open up to her when she's opened to him. And…I'm not trying to be rude, but Aang does not think of Katara as a mother. He's kissed her twice on the lips. And if you really think about it (though I don't like it very much), Katara does show that she likes Aang that way. It's not obvious, like Aang is, but she does like him.

Elle Obermeyer: Thank you for the review. But once I've started a fan-fiction, the chapters always wind up staying the same length each time. And as for your idea, I mean no offense, but it's completely overused, not only in this fandom, but in every single one I've read. I'd never use it.

stylewriter565: Thank you!

sokkantylee: Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoy it!

Ada1405: Thank you! I hope the update doesn't disappoint.

Stardawn: Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it. And I do make a bit out of it. Just a tiny bit.

Meegan: Yay for fuzzy! And…the main reason I skipped over it is because it's another one of those obvious moments. I'm mostly skipping episode scenes, or not describing them, because if someone is reading this, they mostly know what happened. And yes, that happens. Hope the chapter doesn't disappoint.

My Soldier of Irrationality: I never edit my pieces and I don't have a beta. I mean, I'll go back and insert some extra scenes once in a while, but I never check for spelling or grammar or anything, if you can believe it. I sorta know how you feel, though; I'd have a full-time job as an editor if I could. And thank you! I hope this update doesn't disappoint.

This chapter is based in the episodes Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into The Inferno and Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang. Mostly the latter.

Please enjoy!

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Chapter Five

The battle wasn't hard. He chose to fight her alone. He chose to fight her alone…because he didn't want Katara to be injured in the battle. And Azula was…slipping. It was like she had lost her mind after Mai and Ty Lee had abandoned her. She looked…unkempt, and wild. She looked crazy. Zuko could have easily won…

Until his big mouth got in the way. Azula had that horrible, horrible look on her face, and Zuko realized a little too late what she was doing. She was attacking Katara with lightning. He couldn't let her get hurt. He couldn't! She'd been there for him the night he had needed to see his mother's room. She had taken out some of her sleep to sit up with him, talk about his mother. It was…comforting, somehow, and he appreciated it. He could not allow Azula to hurt her; this was his fight. It was between Azula and Zuko; Katara was not part of this battle. Katara was not going to be used as his weakness! He leapt from his place and ran over, too late to redirect the lightning, and in spite of his uncle's warning, he had no choice. He took in the lightning and he felt the sharp and unbearable pain as it struck him. He managed to make most of it hit his stomach, but some of it still found its way to his heart; that was what hurt most, but he thought, in the back of his mind, that, surely, his organs from his stomach to his lungs were now fried. He went down in a show of control; he was silent, but the collapse was painful, even though he tried so, so hard to get up. He curled in on himself, feeling the lightning still crackling in his body. It hurt so badly, he couldn't seem to even twitch his fingers. But he had to get up. Katara couldn't fight Azula alone. She couldn't win.

But he was too weak and could hardly move. Every breath was as heavy as the world itself, and he could feel each beat of his heart slowing, aching. He felt like he needed to pump it himself but he couldn't get off his stomach to do it. He couldn't breathe and he felt so close to death. It was…more painful than when his father had marked him. It was all over his body, not just his face. And his lungs and heart were struggling so hard to work; the strain was even more painful.

His uncle was right. It would kill him. Even if the lightning didn't, the pain would. He knew it.

At least…he'd been given the chance to tell his uncle how sorry he was. In the back of his mind, he felt something coming up. It was the feeling of Katara's lips, so soft and hesitant on his. The way she tasted, and how she'd moved gently in to him, responding tentatively, unsure, but she had so clearly liked it. The feeling of her in his arms, her taste on his tongue…

That was a good way to go, wasn't it? He fought to breathe, to keep his heart beating, but each second the freedom of death seemed more welcoming. The pain was too much.

Katara fought hard, and, with some smarts and amazing power, she won. It was difficult, and a measure of her intelligence that Katara was able to trap her in ice. She tied Azula to the grates near them, chaining her in place. Then, she ran to Zuko, her heart stuck in her throat. Was he still alive? Was he still there? Oh, Spirits, please let him be alive. Please, please. She turned him on to his back and felt his faint breathing. He was alive! She quickly drew her water from her pouch and pressed her hands gently against his stomach. It seemed to take an eternity for her hands to begin glowing, to feel the power of healing wrapping around her, but when it finally began, she put all the effort she had in to saving him. He had to live. He couldn't die!

It hurt even more, he thought, to have her heal him, but then the relief spread and he let out a long breath. It felt so good. His chest didn't weigh a ton and he could feel his heart beating regularly again. It was faster than it should have been, but that could have, literally, been the shock. He looked up at her through half-lidded eyes, so tired that it hurt. "Thank you, Katara." His words were hardly a breath, but she was leaning so close to him that he knew she would hear him. He felt so, so weak, but he felt like he would live, at least.

He saw her tears, "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you." Zuko had saved her life. He had taken a bolt of lightning for her. He'd saved her even before that, but this had nearly killed him in the process. Saving her from falling rubble had provided him an escape, too. But this…was different. He could have died. He almost did, in fact; he had been so weak and she could tell that it was a burden to move at all, even after she had healed him. It had been that bad. But she gently helped him up, taking her time, and managed to get him on his feet. He had to use her for support, but they walked over to his sister. She was breathing fire, but she couldn't escape. She finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, giving up the fight against her chains. Both Katara and Zuko took a great sigh of relief; she wasn't going to escape. She had given up. They'd won.

Everything would be alright, now. Aang just had to defeat the Fire Lord.

Azula was arrested shortly after that, by many surprisingly grateful subjects of hers. Apparently, she was a frightening ruler and they didn't mind Zuko's ascent to the throne.

Katara helped him inside and to his own room, and several servants helped her get him in to the bed. It was too hard for him to move. Another went to get the family physician. But Katara softly climbed in to the bed beside him, using her water bending to cut off his shirt so she could inspect his stomach and chest. "Zuko, I don't think this scar is ever going away. I would need to get Spirit Water from the oasis at the North Pole."

Zuko's chuckle was soft and painful. "Katara, look at my face and tell me you think I can't live with another scar." He was sure it couldn't be as bad as his face. After all, the one on his torso would be covered, most of the time.

Her chuckle was not pained, as his, but it was tearful. "Zuko, that should've been me."

He just barely opened his eyes. "No, Katara." Absolutely not. He would never let Azula hurt Katara. He would never, ever allow that to happen; he would have taken another bolt, if he could've gotten on his feet after the first.

She sighed very deeply, but she looked around. "I need fresh, clean water. Preferably hot." She paused for several seconds. "And make him some tea. The heat will help some of his pain. Please hurry. I'm going to do what I can." She paused once again. "And some cold cloths. This is going to hurt, so you'll want to be able to clean him up after this."

A few of the servants scurried off and returned quickly with what she had asked for. By the time they arrived, Katara was exhausted and sweating with her effort. Zuko was groaning and he, too, was sweaty. The pain was impressive even though it was supposed to be a healing session.

They set a large bowl of water on the table at her side, and they used Firebending to heat it sharply. She wasn't used to the temperature, but she used the heated water on him, wincing when he did; she was sure that the temperature was absolutely scalding, but it would help him. It had to help him. She focused as best as she could and carefully healed him as best as she could, and when she had done everything possible, she helped prop him up on several fluffy pillows, and helped him drink his tea.

Night was falling. She knew that he needed sleep, and she started to climb off his bed. He reached out and weakly caught her hand, pulling on it. "Don't leave, Katara."

It was only a quiet murmur, but she caught every word. She scooted back to him, and she grabbed the cloth lying next to the bed, dipping it in what water was left over from her healing. She wrung it out until it was just barely damp, and she wiped off his forehead, lingering there for several seconds. "I'm sorry, Zuko. I can't do much more now."

"No." It was a heavy breath. He was still in pain, of course, but he was sure that sleep would cure it. "I want you to stay with me tonight." It was nothing more than a soft breath, but she heard it so clearly.

She hesitated for several seconds, but she leaned toward him. "Zuko…you know we don't belong. You'll get Mai out of prison, and she'll…well, you'll go back to the way you were. And…"

"I know, Katara." He wasn't sure he liked that fact, but that was probably the pain messing with his head. He loved Mai. He did thoroughly enjoy the kisses with Katara…but she was for Aang. Mai loved him back, even if she was prone to ignoring her own feelings.

"…I do love Aang, Zuko. Now that it's over…I know I do." She hesitated. "I couldn't, when I wasn't sure of what was going to happen. But now, you're going to be Fire Lord, and Aang is…I'm sure he's defeated your father now. He must have. So…everything is going to be okay now, Zuko. We're all safe, and…" She trailed off. She couldn't explain to him how it had happened because, honestly…she didn't know how, exactly, it had happened. "I love him."

"I know. Katara, I knew when I kissed you." He was smiling, just softly. "I'd like you in here for company. And maybe a little protection." That little smile turned in to a small smirk. "I've been with you guys so long I don't know if I can sleep alone anymore." That was a lie. Even though they'd willingly skipped over Azula, the guards, servants, and every other person in this palace had served his father, and Azula. Zuko was far too weak to fight anyone, and he wasn't sure they were on his side. Perhaps it was just personal trust issues, but he had a right to think that way. His father had banished him and then had made him a wanted man.

Katara felt lost and almost even hurt at that, confused. "You…knew?" Then why had he kissed her that night, in his mother's room? Why had he…? That kiss was passionate and even personal. It was…well, she would even call it intimate. If he had known she loved Aang, why had he kissed her so ardently?

She hadn't been sure, in her mind, even if he was telling her that she had been. He was wrong. She had felt…something for Aang, but until all the stress was relieved, after it all fell away when she and Zuko took down Azula, she hadn't been sure of what it was. Then, the stress on herself and Zuko had melted away and, instead, she was allowed to think of Aang. Of how desperately she would miss him if…something happened. Of how they had been together for all this time and, in spite of her tries to ignore it, he had tried so hard to impress her and had, in many ways, shown how much he cared for her. And she cared for him that way, too, though she had tried to deny it. She hadn't at first, of course. He was just a friend, and a little kid. More like a little brother, really. Then, things had changed, of course. She had started to notice him, only a little, at first. It had been a sort of…natural process that she hadn't been able to stop, despite her tries. But she had resisted in one way; she had refused to fully acknowledge her feelings for him. But now that she could think of nothing but Aang, she was sure that she loved him. He had to be the victor, because he absolutely could not die. He couldn't…he had to come back. He couldn't not come back. She would be devastated if she never saw him again, because the last thing that had happened between them…was a fight. Not exactly a stupid fight, because Aang was just…well, anyway, it had been a fight, and she hadn't been…well. It was stupid that a fight had been the last thing between them. Why hadn't she tried to talk to him? And to top it all off, instead of even checking on him, she had wound up sitting up, talking to Zuko. Of course, she didn't blame him. It was her own fault for holding a grudge against Aang.

She was drawn from her swirling thoughts when Zuko spoke, "I wanted to show you that, even if I'm good now, Aang is the best. You found him, Katara. You're tied to him." Then, there was that smile again, but it was pained. "And, as we both told June, rather forcefully, you're not my girlfriend. We were both rather adamant about that. Maybe even defensive." The kiss in his mother's room had made him question it, at first, but then he had realized that it was really just for his comfort. To sooth him.

She sighed and settled down on the bed. "Seems like your uncle taught you more than how to brew tea." That didn't mean that this…confession didn't hurt. Was he trying to make her feel guilty about it? She had kissed him the last time.

"He did. But that part I figured out on my own. You might have asked me to kiss you, you might have kissed me back, but…I knew you already had someone else on your mind, no matter how confused you were about him, or how upset you were with what he'd done." He reached out and touched her hand again, softly, still too weak to really move. "You've always known, Katara. You're the kind of person who does that. You know from the beginning and you don't change your mind. The first time he kissed you, even if it was a shock and abrupt, you made up your mind about him." He was careful not to bring up the kiss they had shared the night after that. It had been a warm and wonderful kiss, passionate. It had been…much more than he had ever expected of her. That was the only question mark in his mind.

She sighed softly, but soon after, she was helping scoot him over in the bed, and she curled up at his side, close enough to protect him, and so close he could wake her without effort if he was in too much pain. She faced away from him, and in her mind, she thought that, for the first time since he'd shown this side of him…

Zuko was wrong. She hadn't known. And she hadn't known when she'd kissed Zuko, either. If anything, Zuko's kiss had made her more questioning than ever. It was a kiss that she enjoyed and loved, now that she looked back on it. It was a warm and soft kiss, passionate, without being too far along as far as kisses went. It was only a kiss on the lips, no tongue involved, but she had still felt the passion in his spirit and his lips had been so warm. And the other kiss, the next night…why hadn't he mentioned it? It had been even greater. It had been more passionate and his mouth had warmed by a couple of degrees during those kisses. They felt so, so good. The heat of his mouth had made it even better.

She figured that was because he was a Firebender, but she couldn't be sure. But curled up near him, she could feel the heat radiating off him. She knew some of it was the pain, but she was sure that the rest of it was because of his bending.

Zuko's lips had definitely bent hers with all the fire and power of their master.

End Chapter

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