Ok, since it's been a while I decided to post another chapter!:) I really like this chapter because everything is starting to happen! Yay!

I do not own any of the Avatar characters, just Salji:)

After they returned to the house, everyone was exhausted. Although Katara felt like she could stay up longer because she didn't want this day to end. Everyone went to bed, but Katara and Zuko continued to sit on the couch.

They talked about everything under the sun. They talked about their past, friends, and futures.

"After the war is over, I plan on getting married, and settling down, I guess." Katara said blushing a little.

This was the most she about her future. She never really thought more than a day ahead. She really didn't want to think past the next day because she didn't know if she was going to see the next day. Sure she hoped that they were going to make through this war and be able to have a future, but she knew that there was always that chance that they wouldn't make it. She just wanted to live in the moment and hope for tomorrow.

"That sounds very… practical" he said with a small chuckle.

"Well what do you expect me to do? Go into the underground waterbending alliance?" she didn't even know what that was.

"I guess not."

"What about you?" she asked not sure if she really wanted to know or not.

"Well, I guess I'm going back to the Fire Nation to take my place at the thrown." He said in an almost sad voice.

"Oh."

She knew that this was going to be his answer, but she didn't want to come to terms with it. She knew that he was going back to the Fire Nation, and she knew that she was probably going back to the Southern Water Tribe, but hearing it made it worse. Today had changed everything. She realized that she had more feelings towards Zuko than she thought at first.

"Yeah, I need to fix what the Fire Nation has done over the past century. It won't be easy, but it's my destiny." He said giving her a warm smile. She couldn't help but to return it.

"I'm happy that you found your way Zuko."

He didn't say anything for a few moments, and then he broke the silence. "I wish my uncle was here."

"You really miss him, don't you?"

"He was like the father I should have had. He was always there for me giving me support, and I just turned my back on him. I'm a terrible person." He hung his head, and Katara saw tears falling into his lap. She cupped his face with her hand, and made him look into her eyes.

"Zuko, you are not a terrible person. You just lost yourself, but now you have found yourself and you are fulfilling your destiny. Your uncle would be so proud of you. I know he would."

"He shouldn't be proud of me. I've hurt him to many times to count. He should hate me." he said as he pulled Katara's hand off of his face and held it in his.

"If he knew that you were here helping Aang master firebending, I'm pretty sure that he would be proud of you Zuko. He loves you, and when you love someone no matter how many times they mess up, you still love them just as much."

Zuko looked at his and Katara's hands. He was absentmindedly rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. It sent shivers going up and down her spine. She let a shudder past her control.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

"A little." She said with a shy smile.

He leaned over towards her and wrapped his arms around her. She felt instantly warmer. Katara could feel her face becoming scarlet red, but she didn't care. Zuko was putting his arms around her. It was ten times better than just holding his hand. She shuddered again, and his grip tightened.

They sat there for an immeasurable amount of time. Katara didn't even realize that she was nodding off.

She woke up leaned up against Zuko's chest. He was humming an unfamiliar song. It radiated through his chest and made her want to go back to sleep. She shifted a little and Zuko stopped humming.

"Are you awake?" he asked.

"Mmmhmm" she said as she stretched her arms out in front of her. "What were you just humming?"

"It's a song called "Leaves from the Vine". Uncle used to sing it to me when I was young, and when he was gone at war, my mom would." He answered as he played with her hair in his fingers.

"Oh. I liked it." She said with small smile. He smiled back at her. She loved his smile.

"It's my favorite song. It reminds me of my mom. I miss her." he said as he dropped his hand from Katara's head.

"I miss my mom too."

They sat there in silence. Zuko started to play with her hair again, and Katara could feel her eyelids slowly closing. Then she let out a yawn.

"I guess we should be going to bed" Zuko said.

"It is pretty late" she said in agreement.

He let go of her and they both got up off the couch. She stuck out her hand and he grabbed it in response. It felt so natural to her to be with Zuko like this. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. They walked up the stairs and Katara tried to take her time on each step. She didn't want Zuko to go to his room, she wanted for this day to last forever. But then they approached her door.

She turned around to tell Zuko good night, but was caught off guard with his expression. It was as if he was set aflame. There was an intensity in his eyes that sent a shiver up her spine. She felt kind of wobbly on her feet.

"Umm… good night Zuko." She said kind of dizzily.

His face turned back to it old stature and he replied "Good night Katara"

Then he did something that Katara least expected. It all happened in slow-motion. He leaned down and pressed his lips lightly to her forehead. Katara could feel her face turning beat red, and closed her eyes. When he finally pulled back a huge smile broke across his face.

"Sweet dreams." And with that he turned to go to his room.

Katara was stunned. He kissed me! Why did he kiss me? Sure it was only on the forehead, but does it mean something? These questions ran through her head as she slowly made her way through the door to her bedroom. She was utterly stunned. At first the thought that maybe she just imagined it, but she knew she didn't.

When she made it to her bed, she sat on it trying to collect her thoughts. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought it might just jump out of her chest. There was no way she was going to be able to go to sleep now.

As she laid there she kept replaying the whole evening in her head. The thought from earlier came to her mind. She did have more than just friendly feelings towards Zuko. Then a whole slew of questions came into her mind. Does he like me back? Is that why he kissed me, or was he just being nice? Do I tell him that I have these feelings? Or does he make the first move? She stayed up for a few more hours trying to decipher what was going on.