Kya sighed as she watched as her daughter walked out of their home quickly. She felt miserable at the way she treated the poor girl. She shouldn't have been so hard on her, but she had no choice. She didn't want her baby girl to get hurt the way she had with Hakota…

Her child didn't deserve to be humiliated by that so called prince that she had her eye on. And the fact that her other beautiful daughter, Yue, was working against her sister, pained Kya deeply. Though, Yue and Katara knew not they were twins, it still hurt to know they were so horrible toward one another.

She'd be lying if she said she didn't wish that she could have a second chance with her beloved Hakota again… it had killed her the day she decided to break it off with him. Her entire world was shaken up that day, but she knew it was something that had to have been done.

Visions of Hakota making love to her over and over rushed her brain and she had to hold her breath to keep them from overpowering her completely. She couldn't break down. Not now. Not when it was so crucially for her not to. Hanging her head, she breathed in deeply and let it go slowly. Composure. She had to get herself together now.

Rolling her head around, she looked up and saw her son standing before her. "Sokka," she breathed, walking toward him, "What is it, my son?"

He only looked at her strangely, "Mom… I won't be home until later tonight…" he looked like he might want to say more. As though he knew what her thoughts were, but that was impossible No one knew, no one could ever know. "I just thought I'd let you know." He pecked her cheek quickly and before she could question about where he would be, he was gone.

She sighed deeply. She could never quit get a hang of holding onto her children. But then again…what mother did?

Before she could stop it, a single tear slid down her tanned cheek. She caught it before it fell and held it up on her finger. One quiet retched sob racked her body before she flung it away from her. Though she didn't know it, her world was falling apart and it all started with a boy named Zuko…

Sokka walked along the ice bridges of the village closest to the big palace, kicking a broken piece of ice. He was sick of this place. Sick of the people in this damned place. Sick of being considered the village idiot. Sick of forever being alone. Not to mention he was jealous, and he used the word loosely, because he never wanted anyone to ever know that he was really jealous, of Katara.

His mom and sister told him and every person in the village that whenever she disappeared it was because she was 'supposedly' working on her bending. But he knew the truth. He knew that his mother and sister were lying. He wasn't as stupid as everyone thought. He knew that whenever she left them it was because she was in the palace.

He wasn't blind. He saw the similarities between his sister and the princess. And he knew his sister good enough to realize that when she was home, the princess never acted the same. He just wished Katara would trust him enough to share her secret with him.

He wouldn't tell anyone.

Hell he didn't really have anyone to tell.

He just wanted to feel like he belonged.

For once.

Was that so much to ask for?

He sighed heavily and continued on his way.

One day, he would belong with his mom and Katara.

He'd be wanted.

He just didn't know when that would happen…

He hoped it happened soon though…

Yue looked out her window, trying horribly to get rid of the sick feeling in her stomach that was raging at her that that peasant filth had been more intimate with Zuko than she should ever dream about. Worse yet, she had a feeling that Zuko was able to tell the difference between her and Katara.

She hoped it would be in her favor and he would be livid that he had had the unpleasant misfortune of ever talking that piece of garbage. Screeching, she slammed her hands down against the windowsill and closed her eyes, needing to count to ten to calm herself.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw a boy walking over the bridge just beyond the palace. He was cute enough. She smirked as she recognized him. She'd seen him hanging around that Katara dirt and assumed that he and her were an item of sorts. She wondered if he knew that Katara was home already. She figured that Katara had at least told her boyfriend that she worked as her understudy…

The wheels in her literally started to turn as a thought played in her head. If he didn't know that Katara was home…he would probably presume that she was still in the palace. Is that why he was here? Was he coming to meet Katara for a little rendezvous?

God, she hoped so.

Katara had messed with her man.

So Yue would mess with hers.

Smiling giddily to herself, she ran down the stairs leading out the back way of the palace and met the boy before he could get to close to the castle. He looked at her with his eyes wide and his mouth hanging. She smiled coyly at him and fluttered her eyelashes, knowing that all the guys fell for this routine.

He looked at her oddly, as though he wasn't sure what was going on.

Oh, damn… could he tell the difference between them two?

She didn't think anyone could.

But so far, it seemed at least two people could.

Should she just let him think that she was Katara or straight up tell him that she was the princess?

An evil glint filtered through her eyes.

She wanted this to hurt Katara.

So she'd tell him the truth, and then send him on home.

After she kissed him.

Pulling on his hand, she pressed him against the bridge's side and compressed her lips tightly against his. She crawled her arms up his arms, and noticed that they were muscled enough to make her feel a thrill slide down her spine. She pressed her fingertips into his shoulders as animal instincts took over and he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

Just as he was sliding his slick tongue over her lips, she pulled back and mumbled huskily against his plump lips, "Run along home now, peasant, and tell your girlfriend, Yue says 'hello'." Before he could say or do anything, she pushed off him and ran back to the comfort of the palace.

God, it was good to be princess.

I walked back to my hut, torn between not wanting to go home to my mother in her current mood, and not knowing what else I could possibly do. I hadn't been able to find Sokka and I was restless; used to constantly doing something in the palace, whether it be working or parading around for the people of the Northern Water Tribe or even talking to people about their needs.

But whenever I was home, I felt useless, trapped, unable to do anything.

Sometimes, I wished I could stay in the palace because I knew I could do more good for this nation in that great castle than here in a cloth hut. And that above all else, infuriated me. I knew I could do so much more this nation, for this tribe, for my family if I was just given the chance.

Frustrated with myself and everyone else in this godforsaken world, I threw open the door and walked into my home to find my mother and brother standing in the middle of the room. Seeing my brother with his goofy expressions gave me some kind of happiness.

Needing to hold onto that, I ran to him quickly and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, I hugged him tightly, "Sokka! I missed you so much!" I pulled away, to look at him in full. The grin that had finally found my lips was starting to fade away as I saw his expression, "S-Sokka…what's wrong? What happened?" I turned to my mom and saw that she was just as confused as I was.

He looked me in the eyes, "Katara… it's good to see you again, little sister." His smile was tight as he continued, "I just came back from a walk. I ran into a friend of yours." Seeing my confusion, he trumped on, "The princess." Upon my protests, he held up his hand, "Have the decency of not lying to my face, alright." I nodded slightly, my face red with embarrassment. I guess I kind of knew all along that he knew what I did to bring money home to our family.

"Anyway… She came up to me… gave me a message-"

"What kind of message?"

"She told me to tell my girlfriend that Yue said 'hello'."

I was lost, "Wait, that doesn't make sense. You don't have a girlfriend-"

"Yeah, I know, Katay. But I think she mean you… I think she thinks we're a couple. I don't think she knows we're siblings." He sat down, his eyebrows pulled down into a deep V as he thought.

"Why do you think that though?"

"Because… the way she delivered her message…there was so much malice, so much hatred. And I can only think of one person she hates the most…"

I had to agree with him there. I knew the princess hated me. I was better at her job then she'd ever be and her father had no problem with praising me on that little fact. But the way Sokka talked, the way his face flushed as he spoke of her, made me stop, "Sokka… how did she 'deliver' this message?"

His voice was quiet, reserved, his eyes were downcast. "She kissed me. And not just a peck on the cheek or the lips." He drew a ragged breath, "I mean… she kissed me. Full on. She was like some wild anim-"

"STOP!"

The single command made both Sokka and me turn our heads to look at our mother.

Her small frame wracked painfully as she smothered her face in her hands. Her voice was broken and ragged as she cried excruciatingly. Every bone in my body told me to run over to her, to hold her and comfort her as best I could. But I knew better…

When she was like this, which was rarely ever, she didn't want another being to touch her.

"Mama…what's wrong?" I asked quietly.

Several moments passed before the tears slowed and she had enough air to answer, "Incest…"

I was taken aback.

What in the hell was she talking about?

I looked over at Sokka and his face contorted what I was feeling.

"Mama, you need to explain to us what you're talking about."

She looked up and met Sokka's eyes, "Y-you…sinned."

It took only a second to realize what she meant. "You can't possibly mean that Yue is our sister?" a flicker flared inside me.

Anger and something else.

Realization.

Hadn't I already thought this? Why else would Yue and I look so much alike? Why else would I think Hakota and I shared the same eyes?

Because we did…

Kya shook her brown head, "Yes, child. You all are siblings."

How could I have missed this?

She looked damn near identical to me! "Yue and I are twins, aren't we?"

She nodded.

My voice was clipped when I asked, "Who is our father?"

I watched as her throat worked, "Chief Hakota."

I took a deep breath, trying to tamp down my anger, "So… Sokka and I are Chief Hakota's kin and are by law supposed to be in that damned palace instead of here?" I knew it sounded shallow, but sonofabitch, I was pissed beyond belief that she hadn't told us. Had made us live in poverty for so damn long.

She didn't nod, but her lips trembled, "S-Sokka…is only your half brother."

My heart felt like it was in a vise like grip. We weren't fully blood related? "Why didn't you tell us?" I almost shouted at her, but I could never be so cruel to my mother… at least I hoped not.

She ignored my question, "I had Sokka before I met Hakota…" she continued on to tell us their story of how they met, what happened between them and why it all ended. Unable to hold myself up anymore, gravity took and I fell the ground.

Sokka's fists were gripped tightly and his breathing was labored. He was furious. I wanted to comfort him. But I knew he'd resent me… probably already did. I knew what he thought of those royals up there in the palace. How he secretly wanted to be one of them and then to find out that his sisters were what he wanted to be so badly. I wouldn't blame him if he hated me.

Suddenly, the room was too small for me.

His anger and hatred was too much for me.

Her whimpers, mewls and tears were too painful for me.

I had to leave.

Now.

Crawling to my hands and knees I got out of the hut as quick as I could and ran.

To the palace.

I had to settle this.

I had to know the truth.

Hakota would tell me.

Zuko walked briskly through the palace searching for the chief. The sooner he found Hakota, the quicker he could be rid of that woman back there that dared to say she was his princess. Rounding a corner he collided with a girl that damn near caused him to fall backward.

Catching his balance, he held the woman against him, making sure she wasn't hurt. He looked down at her, a tingle starting in his gut. He knew this body…the way it fit against his was familiar. Something he had been longing for. He met those blue eyes and his soul felt lighter.

He had found her!

His princess!

She was here in his arms!

And…dressed in… peasants clothes…?

"Yue?" he asked, his heart beating so loudly, he could have sworn she could hear it.

Her eyes widen as she realized who he was. Looking down quickly, she tied to pull away from but he held her steadfast, "N-no… I, uh, I am not the princess Yue."

He gently took her chin between his fingers and lifted her head, "But you are. I'd know my princess anywhere. Don't deny it. Don't try and tell me otherwise. You cannot lie to me, Yue. You are mine."

This time when she pulled away from him, it took him by surprise and she roughly drew herself from him, "No! I am not yours! I am not Yue!" her chest rose and fell with her heavy breathing. Her fists were clenched tightly and her eyes shone with anger.

He was so confused about everything, "W-what do you mean?"

"Zuko. Look. You need to understand something. The girl that you were with last night was me. But I'm not Yue. My name is Katara. I'm Yue's twin sister she didn't know she had. Hell, until recently, I didn't know either. But what I'm saying is I'm not the princess you think you fell in love with. I'm the peasant who had to pretend to be her." she stared at him with all the intelligence and passion he saw in her the night before.

She was right. She was not princess Yue, but she was princess Katara and that still meant she was still his princess. Regardless of her name, she was his and he knew that deep in his damned bones. "Yu- Katara. It doesn't matter what you say… I don't care what your name is…nor do I care if you are a princess or a peasant… because I know who you are… and you are the girl I kissed last night. You are the girl I want to kiss again. And if you'd let me, you're the girl I want to marry."

Katara stood before him, stunned. Her eyes were wide and it seemed as though she had stopped breathing. Concerned, he took a step forward and held a hand out to her, "Please tell me you're alright?"

She grabbed his hand in hers and held it tightly, "I'm… I'm fine. I just never in my life…" she looked up at him and he stared into those blue eyes that saw right through him. "Never in my life would I ever think that you would believe a word I said. Or would ever want me the way I want you."

"I may not know you completely inside and out, but I know that if you say it, then I know you're not lying. I gotta trust my future wife don't I?" he kissed the top of her head softly and she smiled widely, "So… Katara, which by the way is a beautiful name, so much prettier than Yue, tell me how you have come to find out that you really are a princess?"

She retold her tale of what had happened back at her village as they walked through the castle, still in search for Chief Hakota, "…and that's how we found out about it. Sokka's very upset about it. And I just wanted to confirm it with Hakota. He should know the truth shouldn't he? I can't imagine how Yue's going to take the news."

He looked down at her, "I'm sure she won't be happy about it at all. But she won't have a choice in the matter." He pulled her along still, "Do you have any idea where Hakota would be? I've been searching for him all morning and I haven't been able to find him."

"Did you try his study?"

"Yes."

"His room?"

"Mhm."

"The swimming pool?"

"He has a swimming pool?"

"Of course he does. He's gotta get his exercise somehow…" she smiled as she pulled him down the hall that turned down another that led to a door where they jumped down several stairs, all the while, Zuko was amazed with how un-princess-y she was. He decided he liked it.

Once they were down at least three flights of stairs, she pulled open heavy double doors and walked inside. When he entered behind her closely, he knew there was another reason, aside from exercise, why Hakota hung out down here. It was a place for a troubled man to think.

The chief must have heard their entrance because as Katara walked toward the pool he was hoisting himself out. They stared at each other, gazes unwavering and strict. Tears welled up in Katara's blue eyes and his voice trembled when he spoke, "You know?" was all he asked.

She nodded, "Is it true?"

"Yes…" the answer was quiet, it broke the rules, and it was the answer to everything. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."

She didn't care to answer him. Instead, Zuko watched as she ran and flung herself into Hakota's wet arms, "Daddy…" she mumbled quietly, tearing falling silently down her smooth cheeks.

I stood outside of palace walls with my hand tucked tightly in Zuko's. I was amazed at how perfect this day was starting to end despite its rough beginning. Zuko wanted to marry me; Hakota had talked to my mother and was secretly planning to ask for her hand for her hand in marriage as well.

It was perfect, really.

Well…it would be once we knew how Yue would react to the news. And once we knew that Sokka would get over his resentment for us. But it was too much to ask for all of that. At least all at once. I wanted to make myself believe that it would all end beautifully.

But I knew it was wrong as soon as I heard a scream.

I looked up quickly and saw something that I would never be able to un-see…

Yue, beautiful, tough to handle, but still not deserving of this fate, was falling from her five story room. Her gorgeous flowing gown, floated around her, acting like a barrier against the wind, but it didn't help none. Her body hit the ground but two feet away from us with a sickening thud that had me gagging.

No matter how hard I tried I couldn't keep down the bile that rose.