He led her through the boat, showing her all of his cultural artifacts that he was more than proud of. "And this is what my father discovered back when he was alive and living among the monks. His grandfather was best friends with Avatar Roku, and he felt the need to know the people his grandfather loved so much." He smiled as he showed her a priceless wooden rosary.

Her voice was breathless as she spoke, "This is absolutely stunning, Zuko. There's so much history here…" she looked around the ship in wonder at his collection. Her eyebrows pinched together in sudden thought, "But, Zuko…why aren't all these in a museum back in your homeland? Why do they reside here on this ship?"

His smile was kind and gentle, "Because, Yue… They mean too much to me to not be with me when I'm not home."

She fiddled with her fingers, "Which begs another question, why are you wondering the seas and not home?"

He took a minute to answer, thinking about what he was about to say. Nodding slowly, almost to himself, he looked back up at her, "Because, there has been word that there are some colonies who wish to do harm to this world. That is also where I have heard rumors of the Avatar coming out of his frozen hibernation. The world seems to be in danger and it is his job to protect us." He shook his head, as though he were disappointed with himself, "Though I have yet to find anyone who is trying to threaten the people our world. Which is why I was surprised your father brought up the Avatar at dinner in the first place." He looked off, the wheels in his head turning deeply, "I wonder if he knows anything about it…"

"I can assure you that if he does know anything about it, he has not spoken about it to me…" she walked closer to him, placing her hand on his shoulder lightly. Then as if the touch burned her, she pulled away from him immediately, putting space between them. With a cough that would clear her throat, she shook her head, "Zuko, I think your time is up. I must be getting back home, now."

He turned to face her quickly, "Not yet, Princess. I have a few moments left of your time. And I intend to use them wisely." Without notice, he took three large strides toward her, placed his large hands on her full hips and pulled her close to him.

A small gasp escaped her throat and she looked up at him with wide eyes, "Z-Zuko, I don't think this is w-wise…" her small stutter only seemed to spur him on even more.

"Princess, please…say no more." Not another word fell from his beautiful mouth as his lips descended on hers firmly.

He pressed lips against hers in a hungry fashion that he didn't know he could possess. The small, breathless moan that erupted from her small mouth fueled his blood and he felt himself wanting her in a primal way. She was his and he knew that without a doubt that he would have her as his wife for the rest of their lives.

Sliding his hands to the small of her back, he pressed her against him fully, needing to feel every inch of her being next to his. Deepening the kiss, he skimmed a hand up her back, and wrapped his fingers around the nape of her neck, holding her to him.

He could feel her trying to resist, but as he glide his tongue over her lips, she opened up to him instantaneously and felt her respond to him. He felt her small tongue slide over his own and he blood burned with desire. He wanted more, needed more of her.

But knew he couldn't. He wanted to do this the right way.

He loved her, he knew he did.

This had to be real.

This had to be done right.

With a low growl, he pulled away from her and stepped back.

Her chest rose and fell heavily, her eyes were bright, her lips were swollen from his kisses and her dark cheeks were flushed. She was the most sight he'd even laid eyes on and she was his. Not completely, and not whole fully so, but soon, she would be.

She licked her lips quickly, and his eyes followed the movement. Her teeth sunk into her delicate lip and he watched as her throat worked. Inhaling deeply, she spoke in a rush, "I must be going now." she turned on her heel and ran down the halls of the ship.

He tried to reach for her, "Yue, please, don't!" but she was already gone…

I am such an idiot!

What have I done?

Why did I do that?

I shouldn't have…

I should have kept to myself, dammit.

I pushed on further, pumping my legs harder as my lungs burned from lack of oxygen.

Hot tears smoldered behind my eyes and no matter how hard or fast I blinked they continued to fall down my face in lava streaks.

What was wrong with me?

That man in there was not mine to feel for!

He belonged to another, though he didn't know it.

He thought he was mine, and I was his…

And even though that vision was beautiful, it was wrong.

It didn't matter if I wished for it a thousand times over and over, he would never be mine.

He was Yue's.

Beautiful Princess Yue.

A hysterical cry ripped from my throat as I continued to run. I dashed the tears away as fast as I could, but it was of no use, they just kept falling. My slippers barely had grip on the ice as I jogged back to my home, and as I darted over a piece of particularly slippery ice, my feet gave way, and I lost my balance.

My knees buckled and I slid across the ice, landing in a heap against one of the palace walls. My body ached as I pulled myself up and sat against the wall. I pulled my knees against my chest and hugged them close to me, searching for comfort.

I was such a fool.

Such a damned fool for thinking I could keep this up.

I sniffed and winced as I heard a small crack. I touched my face and pulled back my fingers to find blood coating them. I shook my head, of course. This was just my luck.

Tears still burning their path down my blood stained face, I lifted myself from my pathetic place on the ground and walked back to the window in the palace wall. Raising one foot, I climbed up the vines up the wall and fell through my window.

Dragging myself across the floor to my bathroom and stared at the reflection that stared back at me. I was a hideous mess. Tears mixed with blood crawled down my cheeks, on side of my face was already starting to turn black and blue and it was swollen and tender to the touch. My hair was disheveled and stringy from the water in the air. I was horrible.

My ribs ached and I prayed none of them were broken. On my way up the wall, I noticed that I had twisted my ankle and sprained my wrist. My legs were bruised and bleeding, I looked like I was terribly beaten and left to die. I wasn't sure how I was going to explain this one away. But somehow I would.

A knock at my door, pulled me away from the horrifying image in the mirror. I dashed from the bathroom, into my chambers and grabbed up a blanket quickly wrapping it around me. I walked to the door as calmly as I could and pulled the massive door open, "Can I help y-?" my words trailed off as I recognized Yue's father standing at my door.

"Katara, is everything alright? One of the maids said they heard a terrible noise coming from up here…" he stopped immediately when he saw the blood and I cursed myself for not having the right mindset to clean up before coming to the door.

"Katara, what happened? Has someone harmed you?" his fingers gently touched my skin and I pulled away inadvertently. I hated when he touched me, for some reason, it reminded of something familiar. Something I had once known, but couldn't recall.

He stared at me with eyes that I had always thought were so similar to my own, and cleared his throat, "Please, tell me what happened."

I looked around for an excuse of some sort, "I- I… fell from the bed and hit my head on the wall. Nothing big, but I don't think you want your princess to be represented like this…"

Suddenly all the caring and kindness that had once been in his eyes, disappeared and was replaced with his business attitude, "It's fine; Yue is coming home tomorrow and will be happy to deal with the royal world and have Prince Zuko court her."

I swallowed hard and blinked back a rapid onslaught of tears at his name, "G-good." I cleared my throat to get rid of the lump residing there, "Yes, you're right, she'll like that." I looked down, "Does that mean I'll be able to go home to my mother on our side of the village?"

He clapped me on the shoulder gently, "Yes, for a week at the most."

I looked up, wanting to say something more, but he had already left.

I ground my teeth and slammed my door.

I was stupid.

I was stupid for thinking Chief Hakota actually cared about me.

I was stupid for thinking that Zuko could actually like me.

I was stupid for thinking that this job would actually work out for me.

I was just STUPID!

I flopped on my bed and instantly regretted it with a passion as my body screamed out in regret. Gingerly standing up, I removed my clothes and slid into my plush bed, sighing relieved as my body relaxed against the mattress. Tomorrow I would have to go back to the hard comfort of seal coat skins for blankets.

Tomorrow, I would be rid of Zuko.

The thought made a little happy.

But worst of all, the thought made me sad beyond belief.